Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has been named the Sports Journalist Association of Kenya (SJAK) Coach of the Month for August.

McCarthy earned the recognition after guiding Kenya to a historic run at the African Nations Championship. Under his leadership, the team topped a tough group that included Morocco, Zambia, DR Congo and Angola. They beat Morocco, Zambia and DR Congo 1–0 each and drew 1–1 with Angola.

This performance marked Kenya’s best continental showing since the 1987 All-Africa Games in Nairobi. The campaign ended in the quarterfinals after a 1–1 draw with Madagascar in regulation time, before losing 4–3 on penalties.

“When you top a group where you’re pooled with Morocco, DRC, Angola and Zambia, you count your blessings,” McCarthy stated.

Adding;

“Unfortunately, the game we thought we could win became a mission impossible. There is a lot of talent in this country. Hopefully, we will be able to nurture them and grow.”

He becomes the third foreign coach to win the award this year after South Africa’s Carlos Katywa in April and Burundi’s Etienne Ndayiragije in June.

For the August award, McCarthy received a personalised trophy and a cash prize of Ksh 100,000.

The South African is remembered for a glittering playing career and remains the only player from his country to have lifted the UEFA Champions League, doing so with Porto in 2004. He featured for Ajax, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham, Orlando Pirates and Celta Vigo.

After retirement, he went into management, coaching Cape Town City and AmaZulu in South Africa, and later worked as a first-team coach at Manchester United before taking up the Harambee Stars job in March 2025.

On the international stage, McCarthy made his debut for South Africa in 1997 and remains the country’s all-time leading scorer with 31 goals. He was the joint top scorer at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations and was also named Player of the Tournament.

He also praised Kenyan fans for their support throughout the championship, saying the players felt “untouchable” whenever they stepped on the pitch.