McCarthy admits using Mourinho’s tactics to secure crucial win against Morocco
McCarthy's résumé under Mourinho includes a Champions League title with Porto and countless matches where victory was built on defensive grit.
South African coach Benni McCarthy has acknowledged learning and using revered coach José Mourinho’s tactics after Harambee Stars were forced to play with 10 men after midfielder Crispine Erambo was shown red card in the first half in their match against Morocco.
Speaking after the match, McCarthy said Sunday’s win was built on defensive grit, drawing from the experience of the former Porto coach.
“Defenders may be required to do midfielders’ or strikers’ work. That’s what I learned from José — when you lose a player, you send off a striker, keep one workhorse up front, and the others ‘park the bus’… or in our case, park a train and a bus in front!” he stated.
McCarthy’s résumé under Mourinho includes a Champions League title with Porto and countless matches where victory was built on defensive grit. On Sunday, he dipped deep into that experience. “It’s not always neat for the fans, but you cling on to your lead at any cost,” he explained.
Goalkeeper Bryne Omondi produced a string of saves to frustrate the Atlas Lions. Behind him, centre-backs Sylvester Owino and Mike Kibwage blocked everything in the air, while full-backs Siraj Mohammed and Lewis Bandi shut down Morocco’s wide threats.
At the same time, this was the second match in a row Kenya had to endure with 10 men. Against Angola, midfielder Marvin Nabwire had also seen his yellow card upgraded to red, forcing McCarthy’s side to grind out a draw.
“Believe me, I’d have been happy to finish with 11 men,” McCarthy admitted. “Unfortunately, it’s two games on the bounce. Today was even more unlucky — the player went to clear the ball, completely missed it, and struck the Moroccan player on the shin. It was an accident,” he added.
Interesting, McCarthy played together with Tarik Sektioui, Morocco’s head coach, during his last season in Portugal before he moved to Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League in 2006.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Harambee Stars have remained unbeaten at CHAN — with two wins and a draw from their first three matches.
The winning goal for Harambee Stars was scored by Ryan Wesley Ogam, who broke the deadlock, holding his nerve to calmly rifle the ball past Moroccan goalkeeper Al Harrar in the 35th minute, sending the partisan Kasarani crowd into delirium.
Sunday’s match had McCarthy make changes from the previous squad, which drew with Angola, with Austin Odhiambo, who scored the two goals against DR Congo and Angola, starting on the bench as Bandari’s Mohammed Siraj made his first start of the championship alongside Lewis Bandi.
The former Man U tactician also dropped Skipper Abud Omar and Alphonce Omija to the bench.
The Lions of Morocco dominated in the first ten minutes of the first half, but the Stars settled on their nerve with the support of the 12th man as Ogam netted in the opener. In the second half while one man down, Boniface Muchiri produced a moment of brilliance in the second half, dribbling forcefully into the Moroccan box before being shoved to the ground.
The referee initially awarded a penalty, but after consulting VAR, Vincent Kabore overturned his decision.
The win saw the national team players and technical bench another Sh1 million as promised by President William Ruto, who, before the start of the competition, pledged Sh1 million for every win, with half a million for every draw and Sh600million if they lift the competition trophy.
