Harambee Stars midfielder Muchiri praises McCarthy’s leadership ahead of CHAN mission
By Vincent Voiyoh, July 23, 2025On August 3, 1987, Kenya rose to the occasion, giving a remarkable and magical football show at a packed Moi Sports Centre Kasarani with a 3-3 draw against a well-oiled Cameroon.
This was Kenya’s second game at the fourth edition of the All-African Games that was being staged in the East African region for the first time.
Harambee Stars, under the tutelage of coach Reinhard Fabisch, had silenced Tunisia 1-0 in the opener.
Kenya gave a surprise show in front of the home crowd and went on to reach the final.
It was the first final appearance for the country in a major continental championship.
The boys went down fighting, losing 1-0 against the 1986 African Cup of Nations champions, Egypt.
On a similar date, just like it was 38 years ago, Kenya will be oozing with optimism once again, this time in the eighth edition of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).
The competition kicks off on August 2 in Dar, Tanzania, but the country will rumble with a huge backing for the national side Harambee Stars as they tackle the Democratic Republic of Congo head-on.
Mirroring the Fabisch boys, Harambee Stars midfielder Boniface Muchiri says that McCarthy boys can emulate the class of 1987 All African Games in staging a memorable and scintillating performance that will shock many.
According to the Ulinzi Stars skipper, Harambee Stars is at an observation point and able to plan accordingly to thwart their enemies on the pitch.
“All is well in the camp, and if we transfer what we are doing at the training ground to the matches, then I think we are going to surprise a lot of people. We are going to give a spirited performance in this competition,” Muchiri told People Sport.
The former Tusker FC forward says every player is in top shape psychologically. The players have continued to show why they received the call-ups for the big assignment ahead.
“I have much faith in the squad that we have for this campaign. Nobody is here by fluke.”
The speedy winger who is also in the books of the Kenya Army, has praised the appointment of former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy as Harambee Stars’ coach, terming him as the proverbial Joshua who can take the country to the promised land in terms of football glory.
“He has instilled a winning mentality in the players, and now it’s upon us (players) to produce the wins. In every training session, if you lose, then you get a punishment, and that really shows how serious this camp is because we are not here for show: we are here for serious business. The only business we have here is putting the ball at the back of the net. There is no other way of winning matches but through scoring goals.”
“He (McCarthy) is the right person to lead us in this competition and beyond. I know that with him, we can achieve something that we have not witnessed before as a country in football. For the years I have been in the national team, I have been under several coaches from abroad, and I can say that among them all, McCarthy is the best. He has gone through many situations as a player during his time, and through that, he is able to give details based on experience. He is raising the bar high for Harambee Stars,” Muchiri stated.
Muchiri, who has 20 caps for the country who made his international debut for Kenya against Uganda in 2019, is expected to be one of the key figures for the Harambee Stars in this championship that is just ten days away.
Harambee Stars returned home on July 22, 2025, and reported back to camp at the Kasarani Stadium following their withdrawal from the CECAFA’s Four-Nations Tournament in Arusha, Tanzania, citing poor conditions.
Meanwhile, the 2024 CHAN tournament is drawing closer after CAF began the sale of match-day tickets on July 22, 2025.
The Principal Secretary for Interior, Raymond Omollo, was briefed by the Local Organising Committee’s Safety and Security department, striving to keep everything in place ahead of the competition.