CHAN 2024: McCarthy reveals precautions taken to ensure Bajaber is ready for Harambee Stars
By Kiplagat Sang, July 17, 2025Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has revealed precautions taken for injured Police FC midfielder Mohammed Bajaber.
Despite the injury, the former Nairobi City Stars midfielder has been training as Stars intensify their CHAN preparations, but Bajaber is subjected to a special regime that accommodates his current state.
“Bajaber got injured before we went to Morocco. My decision is that he is a good, young player who broke the system and quickly developed into a powerhouse,” McCarthy explained.
“If you have those kinds of players, you give them every opportunity to be available for the squad because you cannot afford to lose players like that.”
“It would be silly of me to let him train every day and lose him to injury days before CHAN, so we give him every possibility to be available.”
“He has a strict programme with the fitness coach and physio that he works hard on and starts to train with the team, but the minute training gets intense and people start kicking each other, you take him out so that we have him available for CHAN,” he added.
Akumu’s presence
McCarthy also explained why former Gor Mahia and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Teddy Akumu is in the Stars’ camp.
“I always have an open-door policy for both local and international players. Akumu requested to train with the team to keep fit as he weighs his next move, and as a coach, I saw no harm in granting him that opportunity,” the South African said.
“He is not part of the CHAN squad; he is just here training.”