AFC Leopards chairman Boniface Ambani has criticised Benni McCarthy over the exclusion of Tyson Otieno and Moses Shumah and other in-form players from the Harambee Stars squad for the FIFA Series.
McCarthy’s selection has attracted criticism from sections of football stakeholders, who argue that several players in strong club form were overlooked in favour of less active or less consistent performers.
“To me, (Tyson Otieno), he is coming back. I’ve been in the national team, I’ve played for Kenya in the national team for several years. It trickles down to the coach. I don’t think Benni McCarthy has watched Tyson; he has not seen Tyson. He has not been in this country for a long time, after CHAN, if I’m not wrong, someone please correct me. Again, it’s up to him to decide who is in the national team,” he said in an interview on the Big Sports Africa podcast.
“There might be some shady businesses going on in the national team, and you know I don’t mince my words; I have played for the national team. I have also suffered there, and every time I got a call-up, it was when a foreign coach came in.”
He also pointed to emerging talents such as Aldrine Kibet, stating that emerging talents should be given chance to show their talents.
“I wish McCarthy could have been in the country to watch more, just like the England coaches. However, it’s okay, he has his team and how he does his thing. My message to McCarthy is to get time to watch all Premier League matches, we have good players from Shabana, APS Bomet, Kariobangi Sharks, Ulinzi Stars and KCB, among other teams.
“The coach is the one who knows what he wants, and he has to go to the ground and see how he plays. Aldrine Kibet is giving his best, and he needs a chance to play to showcase what they have,” he added.
