Ex-coach “Ghost” stands by Benni McCarthy as selection storm brews
By Dennis Mabuka, July 12, 2025Former Kenya national team head coach Jacob “Ghost” Mulee has come out to defend current Harambee Stars tactician Benni McCarthy on his selection criteria and further predicted a tough outing for the East African nation during the 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament scheduled for August.
There was an outcry from a section of Kenyans immediately after the South African legend named his provisional squad ahead of the eighth edition of the tournament, which is exclusively reserved for players who turn out for local teams in their respective leagues.
Among those who came out openly to criticise McCarthy’s squad was Shabana official Stephen Kiama, who questioned the omission of attacking midfielder Brian Michira, who finished the season with 12 goals, five fewer than Kakamega Homeboyz forward Moses Shumah, who scored 17 to scoop the Golden Boot award.
“We really don’t understand who did the selection of the CHAN squad. Was it really done by McCarthy himself or Francis (Kimanzi)? Because for any serious coach or director looking for local talent for such a tournament for locally based players, there is no way you can skip the name of Michira,” Kiama told Flashscore in a previous exclusive interview.
While McCarthy responded to the criticism by saying he was not in Kenya to please anyone but to bring success to the nation, Ghost, who first took charge of Kenya between 2003 and 2004, including at the 2004 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), has maintained that Kenya has one coach, who is McCarthy, and his decision will always be final.
“I remember when I was given the opportunity to handle Harambee Stars in 2003, many Kenyans were against the decision. They questioned why a man of 35 years was being given a chance to coach the national team,” Ghost recalled vividly during the interview.
“They even went further to say that I didn’t have enough experience to coach the national team, while others complained that I had called up many players from Tusker FC (when summoning my first squad). But I frankly told them that I am the coach, and when I summon any player, I have the reason why I have done it.”
Mulee continued: “I thank God because after that we started to get good results, so the murmurs from people from different quarters, that so and so has not been included in the squad for CHAN, they should know that we only have one coach, and that is McCarthy.”
He added: “I remember one time when the late Reinhard Fabisch, whom I worked with at Harambee Stars (may God rest his soul in peace), was once interviewed by the media and he said: ‘Kenya’s coach is Fabisch but Kenya has 50 million coaches.’
“So every Kenyan is a coach, but for now, McCarthy is the one hired for the job by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the Kenyan government. In fact, during my time, I never used to read newspapers, because if you read them, it will finish you. My focus was on the team, because if you read the newspapers, you will see malicious things that are not happening in camp.”
According to Ghost, who coached Kenyan club Tusker between 1999 and 2009, winning the Kenyan Premier League title three times and later coached APR of Rwanda and Young Africans of Tanzania, Harambee Stars will face a tall order to grind out favourable results during CHAN.
Harambee Stars will play their Group ‘A’ matches at Kasarani Stadium. They have been drawn alongside Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia. Kenya will play their opening fixture at 3 pm local time against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kenya’s second fixture will be against Angola on Tuesday, August 7, 2025, before they face Morocco on Sunday, August 10, 2025, and wind up their group fixtures against Zambia’s Chipolopolo on Sunday, August 17.
“It is a difficult job, because if you check, they are local boys, and maybe they don’t have the experience of playing at such tournaments, and also playing at home comes with a lot of different pressure,” offered Ghost.
“But what makes me happy is that the squad has a mixture of young and experienced players; they have experience from the local league. I am also happy that there is a tournament coming up in Arusha from July 24 until 27; it will provide the team with a great opportunity to train the players before CHAN kicks off.
“It will further give coach McCarthy the opportunity to gauge the readiness of all the players in camp, and I feel this tournament has come at the right time for the team.”
Ghost further reminded McCarthy to make sure he gets positive results during CHAN and reminded him that Kenyans never forgive when things go wrong.
“Kenyans never forgive when you lose, so McCarthy and the players should know that Kenyans don’t fear attacking you with words if you don’t perform, and you can see already they have faulted him in his squad selection, and that is Kenya. If you manage to understand how Kenyans behave, then you will be in a good position to do your job without problems,” added Ghost.
“Playing at home comes with a lot of pressure, but we have a very good tournament coming up in Arusha. It has come at the right time. Benni [McCarthy] has not stayed with this team for a long time; he has only been in charge of the team for four matches, winning one, drawing two and losing one.
“So for now, he has the best opportunity to stay with the local boys, to sharpen them, and we go to Arusha, play the friendlies, and come back for CHAN well prepared and ready to roar.”
With neighbours Uganda starting their residential camp two weeks ahead of CHAN, Ghost was asked whether Kenya were too late to start preparations, and if the decision would affect the team’s performance at the CHAN tournament.
“In Africa there is no lateness,” Ghost responded with prolonged laughter. “In Africa, any time is tea time, so I don’t think it was possible to start preparations earlier because our leagues just concluded recently, and we couldn’t have interfered with the players because they also needed a rest after the gruelling season.– By Dennis Mabuka
“Again, if you look at the calendar, CHAN will kick off in late August, so we have a very good chance to train and go out there and perform. Staying long in camp does not mean you win; it depends on what the coach has planned for the team in terms of preparations.
“So, I don’t think we have started preparations late; we still have enough time to train the boys and get them to the level that they can perform, so the timing is very good for the team before the tournament gets underway.”
Asked what kind of players McCarthy should include in his final squad — whether it should be in terms of experience or those who want to go out there and perform — Ghost responded: “We need the combination of the two; we have players who are ready to do the job, and we have those who have experience.
“For example, if you look at the team, we have Mohammed [Bajaber], who is a very good winger, then we have Austin [Odhiambo], another good winger.
“So if you look at the midfield, these two players will really help the team. And now when it comes to experience, we have Farouk [Shikhalo], he is more experienced, he has even played for Young Africans of Tanzania, so in the squad I feel we have experience, and those players who are coming up, and that combination is the best.”
“Every player who has earned the call has the chance to go out there and use the remaining training sessions to show coach McCarthy what he has, and by doing so, it will give the coach an easier time to name his final squad. This is just a provisional squad; after the residential camp, he will name the final squad that will represent Kenya at CHAN.”
In conclusion, “Ghost said: “I want to send a passionate plea to Kenyans. Please let us come in large numbers to support the team, because when they hear the support, it gives them the spirit and extra motivation to get a good result.
“For example, when we played against Gabon in the World Cup qualifier, the presence of the huge crowd really pushed the players to the limit. Everybody wanted to go to the stadium, and even when you hear the noise inside the stadium, it motivates the players and even the coach.”
This will mark Kenya’s debut in the CHAN tournament. It will run from August 2 to August 30, 2025, and promises to be a thrilling celebration of local football talent across East Africa.