Shabana FC supporters have expressed outrage following the shock exclusion of forward Brian Michira from the Harambee Stars provisional squad for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers. The omission of one of the FKF Premier League’s standout performers has ignited heated debate over the criteria used by head coach Benni McCarthy and his technical team.
Michira just concluded a stellar domestic season in which he scored 12 league goals and provided 8 assists. His efforts were further underlined by a dominant FKF Cup campaign, where he won the Golden Boot after scoring five goals. Altogether, Michira contributed 20 goals and assists in the league and finished the season with a combined 17 goals across all competitive fixtures. Many had tipped him to earn his long-awaited senior national team debut based on merit.
Fans were quick to voice their displeasure, accusing the technical bench of sidelining in-form local talent. Social media was flooded with emotional reactions, memes, and scathing commentary, questioning whether those tasked with selection actually follow the domestic league. Supporters demanded transparency and accountability in national team call-ups, with many arguing that form, not reputation or prior call-ups, should dictate inclusion.
Michira had recently spoken about his hopes of making the CHAN squad, stating that it would be a fitting reward for his hard work throughout the season. His resurgence following the departure of his strike partner Mathew Tegisi mid-season had been seen as a sign of maturity and leadership, making his snub even harder to justify in the eyes of fans.
Within the football community, the debate turned to the selection philosophy. Sources linked to the national setup suggested that McCarthy and his team leaned toward players with prior international exposure, believing experience to be key in a tournament like CHAN. However, many critics dismissed this as a weak argument, pointing out that tournament football often rewards players in peak form rather than those with stale experience.
Veteran supporters, local analysts, and former players have all chimed in to lament the lost opportunity to inject freshness and reward excellence from the domestic scene. They argue that continuing to ignore deserving players sends a demoralizing message to those striving in Kenya’s top league.
Despite the noise, Michira has opted to remain silent, showing maturity and professionalism. Close sources say he is deeply disappointed but focused on continuing his upward trajectory. For Shabana fans and many neutrals, however, the sting of injustice lingers, with many fearing that such decisions undermine the credibility and growth of Kenyan football.
