Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has warned that FIFA and CAF could eventually intervene over unpaid salaries owed to him and his technical bench, exposing fresh concerns about financial management and contractual obligations within Kenyan football.

Speaking in an interview with South African-based Sporty TV, McCarthy revealed that while Harambee Stars players eventually received their outstanding allowances following a go slow during the September international window, the coaching and technical staff have yet to receive any payment.

The South African tactician disclosed that the financial dispute has persisted across several international assignments, with the technical team reportedly going for three months without salaries despite continuing to fulfil their national team responsibilities.

McCarthy explained that the September standoff was triggered by accumulated unpaid salaries, bonuses and allowances affecting both players and members of the technical department. The players eventually took a collective position, threatening not to train or play until the federation addressed their outstanding payments.

The situation disrupted preparations, with the coach revealing that he had to persuade the players to attend a single training session ahead of their match against Eritrea.

“I had to convince the players to train the day before the game. We had a captain’s run, one hour of training, not even a training session, and then the next day you go and play,” McCarthy explained.

Despite the limited preparations, Harambee Stars went on to produce a competitive performance against Eritrea, although they were unable to secure victory. The coach also disclosed that the players continued waiting for their dues during their subsequent trip to Guinea, with payments eventually released in instalments following pressure on the federation and the Ministry of Sports.

However, the coaching staff remain unpaid, a situation McCarthy believes cannot continue indefinitely.

“The authorities eventually will have to pay because obviously FIFA and CAF will intervene in these situations,” he warned.

Such an intervention could have wider implications for Kenyan football, particularly if the matter escalates into a formal contractual or employment dispute. Any action by FIFA or CAF would, however, depend on the nature of the complaint and the applicable regulations.

The unpaid salaries also come against the backdrop of criticism directed at McCarthy following Harambee Stars’ recent performances. The coach defended his technical team’s work, arguing that supporters often judge results without understanding the challenges behind the scenes, including players withdrawing from national team duty over unresolved financial disputes.

He insisted that the technical bench remains committed to improving Kenyan football, pointing to the increasing number of local players securing opportunities abroad as evidence of progress.

Attention now shifts to the upcoming international assignment against South Africa, where McCarthy will come up against Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane, a tactician he has faced several times during his coaching career in South Africa.

McCarthy acknowledged Mosimane’s ability to establish authority within a team, praising the discipline and competitive identity he has brought to the South African national side.

“He’s a coach that demands respect and loyalty from the get-go. At Sundowns he had all that, and with Bafana, he came in and has already demanded and received what he expects from his team,” McCarthy said.

The former Cape Town City coach also described Mosimane’s teams as difficult opponents, recalling their previous encounters when he regularly faced Sundowns despite operating with considerably fewer financial resources.

He maintained that his philosophy has always been to respect opponents without fearing them, suggesting Kenya could spring a surprise against the more fancied South Africans.

“Kenya is the major, major underdog. But it’s good when people underestimate the underdog. I like it that way,” he added.

Benni McCarthy’s trip to South Africa will also be an emotional return to Orlando Stadium, where he enjoyed memorable moments as a player representing Bafana Bafana. This time, however, he will be in the opposite dugout, tasked with leading Kenya against his home country.

With preparations for the next international assignment approaching, resolving the outstanding financial obligations will be crucial in ensuring that the technical team and players can concentrate fully on their football responsibilities.