- Football Kenya Federation president Hussein Mohammed publicly declared his support for head coach Benni McCarthy after a turbulent international break
- McCarthy has reportedly worked for roughly 18 months without valid work permits, affecting his ability to scout FKF Premier League talent in person
- Mohammed addressed the work permit situation directly, revealing that all applications have been submitted and the matter is being resolved
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohammed has thrown his weight behind Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy, despite a string of setbacks that have clouded the South African's tenure in Kenya.
McCarthy's difficult start has included a player strike over unpaid wages during an international break, which severely disrupted the squad's preparation ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The side ultimately drew 1-1 with Eritrea in their opening qualifier, a result that fell short of expectations.
**Work Permit Problems Compound McCarthy's Struggles**
Beyond the unrest within the squad, McCarthy is also reported to have been operating without valid work permits for approximately 18 months. The same situation is said to apply to his foreign technical staff. The absence of the necessary documentation has reportedly made it difficult for McCarthy to attend FKF Premier League fixtures regularly, limiting his capacity to scout local players in person.
Speaking to CGTN Africa, Mohammed acknowledged that things had not gone smoothly but insisted that the federation's faith in McCarthy remained firm.
"I have heard the issues that have arisen over time but you have got to trust in your team," Mohammed said. "You have got to trust in your team that they would be able to deliver and for us, we believe in empowering whoever is under the federation in whatever capacity to be able to perform at their optimal and to me this is critical that you give and support."
He added that any shortcomings would be addressed constructively. "For the areas that have not gone right, we have to step back and say what didn't we get right and why didn't we get it right, and then fix it going forward."
**FKF Distances Itself From Permit Delays**
On the work permit issue specifically, Mohammed was careful to clarify that the FKF does not hold responsibility for issuing such documentation.
"The federation does not issue work permits. That is under the preserve of the government but all the applications have been done and it is a process," he said. "It is unfortunate that maybe along the way, a ball or two were dropped in that process, but that is back on track and I am sure it is something that will be resolved in no time."
McCarthy, formerly head coach at Cape Town City, took charge of the Kenyan national side with ambitions of steering the team towards continental competition.
Source: Briefly News
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