Behold, Kenya's five hitmen doing duty for the country

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy at Kasarani Stadium. [Stafford Ondego, Standard] As Kenya prepares to face Madagascar today, it's important to appreciate that Harambee Stars' journey in the African Nations Championship (Chan) 2024 has been has been nothing short of extraordinary. Harambee Stars, written off before a ball was kicked, have against all odds survived the so-called "Group of Death" and conjured up an unbeaten run to top Group A with 10 points. Two-time champions Morocco and DR Congo were considered too strong in Group A, with Zambia and Angola also thought to be challenging opponents for the co-hosts. But every time Benni McCarthy's men have stepped into the noisy but partisan Kasarani Stadium, sometimes with 46,000 fans, sometimes 26,000, the narrative shifted. When he was appointed head coach weeks before the World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon, the 47-year-old's experience was expected to yield better results. A UEFA Champions League winner, he wasted no time in surrounding himself with a trusted backroom unit he believed would be crucial in uplifting Kenya's football fortunes. So far, the gamble has paid off as far as team management in the Chan 2024 tournament is concerned. The former South African international has been animated on the touchline throughout the tournament. He has looked every bit the man who could still lace his boots and change the game, like he did while a player at Porto. Behind him silently perched on the leather bench, are his technical staff. Five men carefully analysing the game with a different lens, and only appear when called upon. Vasili Manousakis - Assistant Coach Manousakis began his career in the youth system of Ajax Cape Town and is a UEFA A-licensed coach. He worked together with McCarthy at AmaZulu and Cape Town City in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL). He worked under McCarthy for 58 games at the 'Citizens'. The tactician also managed Richards Bay for one season (29 games). Before taking up the Kenya job, Manousakis was working in the Motsepe Foundation Championship as assistant coach. "When Benni called me about this project, it was an interesting one because we had never discussed the national team before. But I heard the passion inside him and his belief. It was sort of similar to the call I received just before we joined AmaZulu. He was very positive and confident. He even talked about the belief at that stage that there was a real opportunity to qualify for the World Cup, which was a very difficult task," Manousakis revealed to SA outlet FARPost. Moeneeb Josephs - Goalkeepers Coach Josephs is a former international goalkeeper, boasting 22 caps with the Bafana Bafana national team. He has represented the country's Under-20 team on seven occasions. The South African has enjoyed a long career in the PSL at club level. He made 177 appearances for Bidvest Wits, 125 for Orlando Pirates, seven for AmaZulu, and one for Ajax Cape Town. He played with McCarthy at Orlando Pirates. He has also made appearances in both the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup with Bidvest Wits. His decorated career has seen him bag several awards, including Goalkeeper of the Season, winning the PSL trophy thrice, winning the domestic cup, and lifting the MTN 8 trophy two times. Pilela Maposa - Performance Analyst Maposa was a senior performance first-team opposition analyst and scout before taking on the East African job. He has had jobs at several SA sides, including Amazulu, Mpumalanga Black Aces, Platinum Stars, and Free State Stars. Internationally, he has worked for Banyana Banyana in the Olympic qualifiers and the SA under 23 national team. He has also had stints at Egyptian side Al Gaish FC and Young Africans (Yanga) in Tanzania. Equipped with a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Studies, Maposa is a GPS Certified Data Analyst and holds a Level 1 Introduction to Sportscode certification. Apart from a CAF D Coaching License from SAFA, he also has a Level 1 Opposition Analysis qualification from the Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA). Anthony 'Modo' Kimani - Assistant Coach Kimani, known by the nickname 'Modo', is an ex-Harambee Stars captain. The former Mathare United captain has risen through the ranks from his beginnings in Korogocho with the Mathare Youth Sports Association. He captained Mathare United to their historic 2008 Kenyan Premier League trophy. He also captained the national team during the 2012 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, where Kenya finished runners-up. He oozes discipline and has enjoyed a decorated playing career with several Kenyan clubs, including Bandari, Sofapaka, Mathare United, and Nairobi City Stars. The 2010 Midfielder of the Year award winner transitioned into coaching and made a name for himself at AFC Leopards before taking on roles at Kenya Police FC, Ulinzi Stars and Bandari. He adds valuable expertise and knowledge of the local football scene. Nick Kimanthi - Data analyst Kimanthi has been at the heart of a modern, data-driven approach to football. As the team's lead data analyst, he designs and implements full performance analysis structures to gauge team and individual player performance. Using advanced tools such as GPS trackers, wearable technology, and video analysis systems, he collects and interprets data from training sessions and games, identifying trends and key performance indicators, that influence McCarthy's tactical decisions. He also arranges detailed performance reports for the coaching staff, players, and management. He has had roles at Queens Park Rangers, Saracens Women's Rugby and RCD Espanyol, and was a FIFA tournament analyst at the Qatar 2022 World Cup. With advanced degrees in sports management and sports performance analysis, he also plans training camps, manageing travel logistics. He is also involved in processing player documentation while confirming compliance with CAF and Fifa guidelines.

Behold, Kenya's five hitmen doing duty for the country

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