Ex-Bayern Munich star Schweinsteiger backs Harambee Stars' World Cup bid

Former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is adamant that Harambee Stars will qualify for the FIFA World Cup soon, especially as they are now managed by the capable Benny McCarthy.

The German is in Kenya as part of a long African tour and was speaking at the Serena Hotel on Friday morning at the start of the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour in the country.

He believes that Kenya has what it takes to qualify for the World Cup, going by how much passion exists on Kenyan streets and the fact that McCarthy is now in charge of matters.

"I'm happy to be in Kenya. It's fantastic. I believe that Kenya is on the right path because I have been in the country for only a few hours, and already I can tell that you people really love the game," he said during the event.

I believe Kenya is now getting closer and closer to the World Cup, especially now that you have someone like Benni McCarthy in charge of the national team."

"I believe you really deserve it and are headed in the right direction," the Bayern Munich legend added.

Schweinsteiger further encouraged young footballers in the country to dream big and aspire to play at the highest level in football, such as the UEFA Champions League, and is certain that the talent is there, but what is missing is the motivation.

He pinpointed self-motivation as a key ingredient for any young player who wants to taste success in their career.

“It is important to have love for the game, work hard, and to be self-disciplined, but for me, what matters most is self-motivation. That’s the difference between a top player and a good one; self-responsibility and a strong mentality to succeed at the highest level," he professed.

"During my career, I saw a number of such players and it was easy to play alongside them because they knew what it was required of them," the 40-year-old explained.

Schweinsteiger is one of Germany's most decorated players of all time.

He spent 17 seasons at Bayern Munich, playing in exactly 500 matches across all competitions and scoring 68 goals. His honours at the club include eight Bundesliga titles, seven DFB-Pokal titles, a UEFA Champions League title, a FIFA Club World Cup title, and a UEFA Super Cup title.

He joined Manchester United in 2015, playing sparingly for 18 months before moving to Chicago Fire.

He announced his retirement from playing in October 2019.

Schweinsteiger played for the German national team from 2004 to 2016. He is Germany's fourth-most-capped player of all time, having earned 121 caps and scored 24 goals.