Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy fears his lack of a Kenyan work permit could one day cost him the chance to realise his dream of coaching Manchester United.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe boyhood United fan has never hidden his desire to return to club management and is now concerned that his stint in Kenya could count against him if an opportunity to take charge at Old Trafford ever comes his way.##NAJAVA_MECA_9980414##“I am very worried for myself and my team, because I don’t ever want that to be the stumbling block to us getting the job one day of becoming a Man United coach. That’s my aspiration, my ambition. I don’t ever want that to be the challenge why I never make that dream come true, because of what I did when I was in Kenya. Where I worked here, and I didn’t have my work permit to do that,” McCarthy said.BREAKING: Government moves to clear outstanding Harambee Stars allowancesThe South African previously worked at United as part of Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff, where he was responsible for the forwards between 2022 and 2024.Before taking charge of Harambee Stars, McCarthy also coached in his homeland, taking charge of Cape Town City and AmaZulu, famously guiding the latter to the CAF Champions League group stages in 2022.##NAJAVA_MECA_9981886##The gaffer believes working in Kenya without the required documentation could leave a negative mark on his record, particularly when dealing with clubs in countries where compliance with employment regulations is strictly scrutinised.“Other people, if they go back to the records and it says that I worked illegally in a country, they would say that ‘Why would we want to have him, if he’s capable of doing that there, he’s more than capable of doing it wherever he goes.’ McCarthy presses FKF to resolve issues affecting him and his assistantsThat might be a negative on me for something that I didn’t have control over… so yeah, I am worried,” he said.The former FC Porto forward also revealed that the situation has affected his ability to attend local matches as frequently as he would like while scouting players for the national team.End in sight as Kariobangi Sharks, Mombasa United reach playoff breakthrough“With my South African passport that I have, I don’t need a visa to get into Kenya. But I don’t know if that allows me to work in Kenya without needing a work permit. So that’s why, unfortunately for the other players, when you don’t see us at local games, that is probably the biggest reason why we’re never here,” McCarthy added.McCarthy defends inclusion of suspended Gor Mahia duo in Harambee StarsFollowing McCarthy’s concerns, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) revealed that it is working with the relevant authorities to expedite the issuance of work permits for the coach and his technical bench.
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