Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy and his entire foreign technical staff are reportedly without work permits in Kenya, contributing to their limited presence in the country.
The federation is responsible for securing the necessary permits. McCarthy was appointed by the national team last year following spells in charge of a couple of teams in South Africa, plus a stint at Manchester United.
The 48-year-old has revealed that he and members of his backroom staff do not have working permits in Kenya. McCarthy says the situation has left him uncomfortable about his legal status in the country, meaning he has to leave at the end of each camp.
“It’s been one-and-a-half-years now in Kenya but we don’t have work permits. We can’t work as illegal immigrants,” he said. “That’s why I come, do my job, then leave when the camp is finished.
“I don’t want to be questioned by authorities on why I am in another country illegally. The people that deploy you must make sure you have them.”
McCarthy’s problems don’t end there. Ahead of Kenya’s upcoming qualifiers, some players have boycotted training over unpaid allowances.
“For four to five camps, not receiving a cent of what was promised, of course, as a human being you will be like, is it worth it? Is it okay for the national team?” he added. “Therefore, it becomes hard to manage players who have not been paid.
“We all started playing football for the love and the passion; it was not about money. But when you have a gift, people are willing to pay a lot of money for it. I understand the players’ frustrations, and they have had to make other arrangements.”
