Details
Coach McKinstry calls time in Bangladesh

OFFICIAL PRESS STATEMENT: Coach McKinstry calls time with Bangladesh Premier League team, Saif Sporting Club Ltd. (30 Sep 2019).

Mymensingh, Bangladesh. 03 Mar 2019. Johnathan McKinstry (Head Coach, Saif Sporting Club). Rafiq Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium. Credit: XtraTimeSports (Darren McKinstry).Coach McKinstry at Saif Sporting Club.

 

Announcing his decision, Coach McKinstry said:

"In departing SAIF Sporting Club, I wish the club and fans the very best for the future.
I want to thank the Club, staff, players and fans for their commitment during my time as Head Coach; and in particular to Md. Nasiruddin Chowdhury, SAIF Managing Director, for his support over the last 12 months.
While the time has come for me to explore new opportunities outside of Bangladesh, the relationships I have made in Dhaka and Mymensingh will last for many years to come.
I have enjoyed immensely my time working with SAIF Sporting Club and living in Bangladesh.
Together we have equalled the Club's highest ever league finish (4th) and secured it's best performance in BFF Independence Cup (quarter finals).
We also set a number of new club records: Most Points in a league season; Most Wins in a league season; Most Goals Scored in a league season.
I very much hope that the club, with its professionalism and ambitions, will achieve continued success."

 


 

Johnathan McKinstry (Head Coach) - Farewell quote 1 of 2. Credit: XtraTimeSports (Darren McKinstry).


 

Johnathan McKinstry (Head Coach) - Farewell quote 2 of 2. Credit: XtraTimeSports (Darren McKinstry).


 

 

Notes to Editors

Background

  • Coach McKinstry was first appointed as Head Coach of Saif Sporting Club on 7 Nov 2018 for the 2018-19 season.  Following a successful season, on 1 August 2019 he was reappointed as Head Coach for the 2019-20 season.  On 30 September 2019, ahead of the start of the 2019 season, he announced his departure, stating that the time had come for him to explore new opportunities outside of Bangladesh.
  • During his time in charge as Head Coach, Saif Sporting Club equalled the Club's highest ever league finish (4th) and secured it's best performance in BFF Independence Cup (quarter finals). He also led the team to set a number of new club records: Most Points in a league season; Most Wins in a league season; Most Goals Scored in a league season.
  • Formed in 2016, Saif Sporting are an ambitious club owned by one of Bangladesh's biggest companies. Saif Sporting appointed Coach McKinstry's so that they could draw on his track record of innovation and achieving success in varied and challenging environments across the globe. His experience was seen as perfectly suited to building their technical and organisational capacity to allow them to develop into one of the top teams in the region and in Asia.

Interview Requests

Please contact  with any requests. 

 

Download Pictures (for Media Use)

See www.johnnymckinstry.com/gallery to download pictures for use in press reporting or social media (terms apply)

More News

Visit www.johnnymckinstry.com/SaifSporting 

You can also follow @johnnymckinstry , or @XtraTimeSports on twitter.

 

 

Interview Requests

Please contact  with any requests.  

Photo Gallery / Download 

See www.johnnymckinstry.com/gallery for a selection of images for use in social media or online news (terms apply).  Images without watermarks, or for wider use can be obtained via www.xtratimesports.net/photos.

More News

Visit www.johnnymckinstry.com.  You can also follow @johnnymckinstry , or @XtraTimeSports on twitter.

Read More

You can read more about Coach McKinstry's:

About Coach McKinstry

Coach McKinstry is a UEFA Pro Licensed Football Coach, with a number of successes across his 20+ year career to date.    He is currently Head Coach of Gor Mahia FC in Kenya

As Head Coach of the Uganda National Team, the 'Uganda Cranes' (2019 - 2021) he led Uganda to win CECAFA 2019 and over his tenure delivered a WIN from 2 in every 3 games, going undefeated in over 8 in every 10 games played.  This represented the highest 'win' and 'undefeated' rate achieved by a Uganda National Team Coach in over 15 years.

He was International Manager and Head Coach of the Rwanda National Football Team (2015-16). Within just 17 months he led Rwanda to a number of highs - including their first ever appearance in the knockout stages of a major international tournament (Quarter-finals of CHAN, Jan 2016) and finished runner-up in CECAFA (Dec 2105), being named 'Coach of the Tournament' for his efforts. 

Across 2013-14, he was Head Coach of the Sierra Leone National Men's Football team. Within just over a year, he had led Sierra Leone to their highest ever FIFA World and African rankings - 7th in Africa and 50th in the World (August 2014). 

He has also been Head Coach of Saif Sporting Club, Bangladesh Premier League (2018-19); and FK Kauno Zalgiris, Lithuanian A-Lyga (2017-18).  He is a European (UEFA), American (NSCAA) and university qualified football coach. 

Coach McKinstry is a member of 'Common Goal'. Together members seek to support high-impact organisations that harness the power of football to advance the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.