Sierra Leone National Team

Sierra Leone narrowly defeated 1-0 by Cape Verde in World Cup Qualifier (June 2013)

Details: Published: Saturday, 15 June 2013 23:53

"Mohamed 'Poborsky' Bangura [vs. Cape Verde, June 2013 (Pic: Darren McKinstry)

Coach McKinstry and the Leone Stars suffered a narrow 1-nil defeat to Cape Verde.

Alhassan 'Crespo' Kamara [vs. Cape Verde, June 2013 (Pic: Darren McKinstry)] In the World Cup qualifier in Praia (Cape Verde) today, Cape Verde scored an early goal from somewhat of a fortunate situation, and from there on in frustrated a game that was otherwise characterised by the Leone Stars in possession.

Coach McKinstry commented "In international football I think you will struggle to find many examples where the away team has had the majority of possession and territory, as we had today, but couldn't put the finishing touch to it and get the ball into the net".

John Kamara (Leone Stars) [vs. Cape Verde, June 2013 (Pic: Darren McKinstry)] Reflecting on the game as a whole, Coach McKinstry noted "In terms of the performance of the Leone Stars, the are clear positives in how the team is developing - in terms of how we passed the ball, better using the space of the field, pressurising our opponents - and on another day maybe those chances that came back off the post would end up in the back of the net, but not today."

He added:

"At this level the result is king, and we have to do better to ensure we see off teams and that the result matches the performance going forward".

Match Highlights

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Notes to Editors

The game is a World Cup 2013 Qualifier against Cape Verde on 15 June 2013
The game is the second in charge for Coach McKinstry who was appointed to the post in April 2013.
See www.johnnymckinstry.com for a range of information - biography, press releases and photographs for press use.
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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 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.

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.