The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced the appointment of Benni McCarthy as the new head coach of the Kenya national football team on the 3^rd of March. 8 days later, having watched only one local Premier League match, the South African named his first Harambee Stars squad.

McCarthy has taken a balanced approach to the selection of local and foreign-based players in the provisional squad, which will be trimmed down for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Gabon and Gambia. 

Data indicates that, even with a balanced selection of local and foreign players, several high-performing local players were overlooked.

Local players from the Kenya Premier League (KPL) hold a marginal majority in the squad, representing 52.1% compared to 47.9% of foreign-based players. McCarthy’s selection maintains a 50/50 balance across all positions except in the forwards, where local-based players hold the majority.

The coach would not know most of the players. He admitted as much in a press conference, stating,

“ I did not get a wide variety of knowledge of the players. I had to rely on coach Francis and the coaches who have been part and parcel of the team.”

Tanzania-based players are the majority, followed by South Africa-based players. This selection cast a wide net, drawing players based in Europe, Asia, and even a first time call up for a player based in Australia.

KPL Top 3 Teams Dominate

The only Kenya Premier League match McCarthy attended in person was Kariobangi Sharks versus Gor Mahia at Dandora Stadium. It is not clear if this affected selection, but defending KPL champions Gor Mahia have 7 players in the provisional squad.

Kenya Police, Tusker FC, and Gor Mahia, the current KPL top 3, have contributed a combined 15 players, which is more than the rest of the teams combined. 

 Shabana Fans Cry Foul

As expected, squad selections always spark fan debate. Quite often the best players are in the top sides, so it’s no surprise the provisional squad local based players are from the top 3.

However, Tisini's player ratings reveal that several top-performing KPL players, including many in the top 20, were overlooked.

Patrick Matasi, Abud Omar,  Bonphas Munyasa, Darius Msagha Mnyambo, Victor Odhiambo, John Omondi, Ally Salum, Keith Imbali, Charles Saramu, Sebastian Wekesa, and Brian Michira are some locally based players in Tisini’s top 20 not to make the squad.

**Mathew Tegisi recently left Shabana for Pamba Jiji in Tanzania**

One set of fans that are not happy are Tore Bore fans. Despite their 6^th place and strong home record at Gusii Stadium, no players from the team were called up to Harambee Stars.

New signing Keith Imbali, considered by many as one of the best midfielders in the country, missed out. Imbali boasts excellent passing technique, making him a press-resistant midfielder who excels at delivering accurate, weighted passes and thrives in short-passing combination play. The “magician” at position 11 on Tisini’s chart did not make it to the squad.

 Brian Michira Omission

McCarthy didn’t just say no to magic but to the entire Shabana squad. Despite being the 2021 National Super League (NSL) Young Player of the Year, Brian Michira was overlooked. This is particularly striking given that he currently leads Tisini's data-based ratings and is widely considered the FKF Premier League's top player this season.

Michira’s impressive performances have been pivotal in Shabana's remarkable turnaround this season, lifting them from the relegation zone at the start of the season and making them a formidable side. 

The player is only second to top scorer Ogam in terms of shots on target and is among the top scorers in KPL. He averages 1.66 shots on target per 90, which is second highest in KPL and higher than Ogam. His omission has left a lot of Shabana fans wondering what more he needs to do.

Analyzing the data of only the selected squad, Michira and Imbali, both from Shabana, outperform the majority of the local-based squad, with Michira topping the charts and Imbali securing fourth place.

McCarthy Blind to Stats

The current Harambee Stars squad, shaped significantly by Kimanzi and other local coaches, means the new manager will need time to integrate and understand his players. He also utilized video analysis during the selection process.

He admitted the video approach wasn't ideal, but it allowed him to spot a promising, undisclosed talent.

"I also watched some videos. I know it is not ideal, but considering the time I came in was short, I’m glad I did because maybe I could have missed a hidden gem," McCarthy said.

It's no surprise that he was blind to some of the players who rank highly based on data. On arrival in Kenya, he stated, 

"For me, I don't like what the computer says. The stats. I'm from the generation where what the naked eye sees can't be deceived.”

Maybe a bit more use of data might reveal to him some the hidden gems he missed and those that will emerge in the future.