Advertisement
Ex-Gor Mahia coach Zico defends McCarthy after Harambee Stars’ loss to Estonia
29th March, 2026 06:52 PM
Former Harambee Stars coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno has slammed fans for putting undue pressure on coaches by prioritising results over proper preparation.
In an interview with a local TV station on Sunday, March 29, 2026, Zico underscored the need for fans to acknowledge that thorough preparation ultimately determines results on the pitch.
“Pre-season is all about preparation, not results or winning. It is aimed at getting a team to full readiness before the ‘main acts’, such as leagues or major competitions, begin,” he stated.
The Tanzania-based trainer also sought to defend coach Benni McCarthy amid a spate of inconsistent results in the recent friendly encounters after the penalty loss to Estonia.
He explained that, for coaches, preseason and friendly matches are not just about winning but about building the team and improving performance.
“For coaches, McCarthy included, the focus is on getting his charges ready, whether for the World Cup or AFCON. We are sometimes unfair to coaches with our insistence on immediate results,” he added.
His remarks come amid an ongoing debate over McCarthy’s selection criteria after several players were left out of his squad for the FIFA Series.
McCarthy came under fire, particularly from AFC Leopards Secretary General Isaac Mulindi, who contested the exclusion of a crop of outstanding local league stars, former league giants, as unfair.
In his tirade, Mulindi termed the failure to include any Leopards player as pure hatred.
”We are also having sleepless nights on how our players will get help, but I speak from my heart; they hate AFC Leopards. The hatred is there; we cannot be number two in the league and lack even a single player in the provisional squad, but we shall encourage our players. If they think AFC Leopards is not worth it, I pray that we win the league,” he charged.
In a scathing rebuttal, McCarthy stood his ground, telling off his critics to instead focus on the affairs of their clubs and their positions in the football league standings.
