GOAL: Rwanda coach Johnny McKinstry talks Ghana, tactics & stopping Andre Ayew
The Amavubi coach spoke to Goal ahead of the Wasps’ Afcon 2017 qualifying encounter with Avram Grant’s Black Stars
The Amavubi coach spoke to Goal ahead of the Wasps’ Afcon 2017 qualifying encounter with Avram Grant’s Black Stars
Lisburn, Newcastle, Ghana, New York, Sierra Leone and Rwanda so far.
"You’re in at the deep end, you don’t know what to expect really and you have to think on your feet. I’m that way inclined, I love new cultures, new people and working with people."
The Ebola virus derailed the young manager's incredible work in Sierra Leone but he's eager to conjure something similar in a new country.
Treated as pariahs after the outbreak of disease at home, could Sierra Leone’s footballers provide joy at a time of hysteria?
Johnny McKinstry is on the final leg of a remarkable journey. It began when he left behind a glamorous Manhattan lifestyle for the wonder and wastelands of Sierra Leone five years ago. It will end when he walks through the front door of the family home in Lisburn, Belfast for Christmas, having lived through an incredible time in modern history...
Manager of the Sierra Leone national team at the age of just 27, Johnny McKinstry is one of football's brightest young coaching talents. 'These Football Times' talk to the Northern Irishman about his journey....
See www.johnnymckinstry.com/gallery for a selection of images.
(Photography by: www.xtratimesports.net)
Visit www.johnnymckinstry.com, or follow on social media:
Twitter: @johnnymckinstry
Instagram: @coachmckinstry
LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/in/johnnymckinstry
Facebook: www.facebook.com/coachmckinstry
You can read more about Coach McKinstry's:
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 the Gambia National Team and Head Coach of Gor Mahia FC in Kenya (2022-24) where he won two Kenya Premier League titles (2023-24, 2022-23), and the 2023-24 Kenya Charity Shield, returning the club to the top of Kenyan football.
As Head Coach of the Uganda National Team, (2019 - 2021) he led Uganda to win CECAFA 2019 and delivered a win from 2 in every 3 games, going undefeated in 8 in evey 10 games. This represented the highest 'win' and 'undefeated' rate achieved by a Uganda National Team Coach in over 15 years.
He was Head Coach of the Rwanda National Football Team (2015-16). Within 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).
Coach McKinstry is a European (UEFA), American (NSCAA) and university qualified football coach and a member of Common Goal.