Former Kenya coach Adel Amrouche has warned that difficulties keeping Benni McCarthy in the country could deny locally based players opportunities to impress the Harambee Stars coach.
Drawing on his own experience, Amrouche said living in Nairobi allowed him to follow domestic football closely, including watching Michael Olunga while the striker was still playing in the local league.
His comments follow McCarthy’s September disclosure that he and members of his technical team lacked the required work permits. The South African said the situation affected his ability to remain in Kenya between international assignments and monitor domestic matches.
Amrouche, who coached Kenya from February 2013 until August 2014, believes facilitating the national team coach’s stay should be a priority.
“When I coached Kenya, I spent 70% of the time in Nairobi and was able to watch all the local teams and also follow the ones that were overseas,” Amrouche told FARPost.
Although he could call on overseas-based internationals, including Victor Wanyama, Johanna Omolo, Brian Mandela, Jamal Mohamed and Dennis Oliech, Amrouche said much of his squad came from the domestic game. Being based in Kenya gave him regular access to those players and helped him assess options to complement his established internationals.
AMROUCHE: LOCAL PLAYERS COULD MISS OPPORTUNITIES
Amrouche pointed to Olunga, who captains Qatar Stars League side Al-Arabi, as an example of why the national team coach needs opportunities to watch domestic matches.
“Michael Olunga was still in the local league. I saw him because I was watching local league games,” he said.
The former Harambee Stars mentor believes being unable to follow the domestic competition in person risks leaving promising players outside the national team picture.
His concern centres on giving emerging talent regular assessment by the national team coach, rather than relying solely on performances during international camps.
Amrouche also recalled receiving swift administrative support when he took charge of Kenya, contrasting that experience with the documentation concerns McCarthy raised.
“Before the contract was made, I automatically had my residence visa. They changed my driver’s licence; they gave it to me in one day. You’re like a king when you’re the national team coach.”
He believes resolving the issue would help McCarthy carry out the wider responsibilities of his position. “I’m sure there’s a way to facilitate the coach’s visa because it’s important for him in doing his work,” he said.
FKF BACKS BENNI MCCARTHY
Amid the saga, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohammed said the matter falls outside the federation’s direct jurisdiction.
“The federation does not issue work permits. That is under the purview of the government, but all the applications have been done, and it is a process,” Mohammed 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.”
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