Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has come out in defence of two Gor Mahia players reportedly suspended by their club, insisting their standing in the national team setup remains unaffected.Gor reportedly handed goalkeeper Bryne Omondi and defender Michael Kibwage a 14-day precautionary suspension following their conduct in the club's 5-1 defeat to Pyramids FC in Cairo##NAJAVA_MECA_9980414##The result saw the Kenyan champions crash out of the CAF Champions League 7-1 on aggregate.Defender Frank Odhiambo was also, reportedly, handed a warning over his performance in the same match.The suspensions sparked backlash among Kenyan football fans, with many calling on the Harambee Stars gaffer to drop the duo from the national team setup altogether.Speaking at a media briefing in a Nairobi hotel, the former Porto striker dismissed the calls, saying it was unfair to single out individual players for a collective failure."It was very harsh for people to point fingers at two individuals. They are people I know very well; I have had them in my matches," said the ex-Bafana Bafana international.He added that whatever disciplinary issue the club believes it has identified is a matter for Gor Mahia to handle internally, separate from his own assessment of the players.McCarthy cries foul after going months without salary at Harambee Stars"The trust and belief that I have in these players, so if the club feels they've detected something with them, that's with the club," said the man who has previously coached at AmaZulu and Cape Town City.The South African maintained that both players have consistently delivered whenever called upon, and reaffirmed his intention to include them in future squads."I have full confidence in them. Each time I select them, they usually give their best. I will have them in the squad; I am happy to have them in the squad," he said.Harambee Stars secure friendly to make it 3 matches in 9 daysThe former Manchester United attack coach went on to defend Gor Mahia's overall campaign in Egypt, and noted that the heavy scoreline did not tell the full story of the tie."Unfortunately for Gor Mahia, they have their own issues, and they have nothing to be ashamed of. For Gor to have lost by a small margin at home and go there was tough. I think it was a collective thing, so for people to point fingers wasn't good," he said.Kenyan midfielder suffers late heartbreak against Arsenal in UEFA Women’s Champions LeagueHarambee Stars are currently in camp preparing to face Eritrea in their 2027 AFCON qualifier on 28 September.
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