Northern Irishman Johnny McKinstry was on Monday morning unveiled at Fufa House in Kampala as the new Uganda Cranes coach on a three-year contract.
The former Rwanda and Sporting Saif coach takes over permanently from Frenchman Sebastien Desabre, who left the position in July for Pyramids FC after guiding Uganda to the last 16 of the 2019 Afcon finals in Egypt.
McKinstry, 34, arrives at a time the national team’s fortunes are on the upward trend, and faces quite some task maintaining the trajectory, and even making it better.
“I have to say I’m very honored and privileged that Fufa made me the offer to come and manage the team. We want to continue growing. The Uganda Cranes national team is one of the very best in Africa in terms of the team progressing and Fufa’s vision, and I’m honored and excited for weeks and months ahead,” McKinstry told the media.
Stiff competition
McKinstry beat 2017 Africa Cup of Nations winning coach with Cameroon Hugo Broos and Belgian Luc Eymael, who are said to have made the final three, to the job.
Fufa CEO Edgar Watson said they considered “the age range, potential of the coach to fit in Fufa’s vision of being number one in Africa on and off the pitch, and McKinstry do in well.”
McKinstry is a Northern Irish UEFA Pro licensed football manager and the former Head Coach of Bangladesh Football Premier League team Saif SC. Previously McKinstry managed the Rwanda national team, the Sierra Leone national team, and Kauno Žalgiris in the A Lyga.