Coach McKinstry departs as Head Coach of Uganda National Team

Details: Published: Monday, 19 April 2021 11:30

Coach McKinstry departs his role as Head Coach of Uganda National Team (19 April 2021).

Winning 2 in every 3 games played, Coach McKinstry departs Uganda with a 67% WIN rate across 18 games (12 wins, 3 draws and only 3 defeats). This represents the strongest 'win' and 'undefeated' rate of any Uganda national team coach in over 15 years.

“I have today reached an agreement with FUFA to bring to an end my role as Head Coach of the Uganda men’s national team.

It has been my pleasure to work with dedicated staff and players to develop the Uganda Cranes since 2019 - a period that saw us win 2 in every 3 games, recording a 67% WIN rate - including 12 wins, 3 draws and only 3 defeats across our time together.

It was particularly rewarding to lead Uganda to victory in the CECAFA Challenge Cup 2019 by winning all of our games, something which has only been achieved once before by Uganda in their history.

My thanks also to the wider football fraternity in Uganda for their support over the last 18 months, and to the players and staff for their contribution and efforts during our time together.

I wish both FUFA and the Uganda Cranes the very best in seeking to move forward.”

JM - Uganda - Performance Record for Coach McKinstry

Notes / Highlights:

As Head Coach of the Uganda National Team, the 'Uganda Cranes' (2019 - 2021) Coach McKinstry delivered a WIN from 2 in every 3 games and went 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, a standard that can be considered high not only in Uganda but also by international standards.

Overall, Coach McKinstry led Uganda for 18 matches - winning 12 (67%), drawing 3 (17%) and losing only 3 (17%); scoring 30 goals and conceding 11 (Goal Difference: +19). Comparing games under his management with the same number of games immediately before his appointment, he had improved Uganda's win ratio by 103% (67% Win vs 33% Win previously).

JM - Uganda - Statistics - Win Ratio and Improvement

You can read a REVIEW of Coach McKinstry's delivery with the Uganda Cranes; and his performance across a number of his roles to date - 'REVIEW: 20 Years of Coaching - Highlights and Key Stats (March 2021)'

JM - Uganda - Departure quote from Coach McKinstry (part 1)

JM - Uganda - Departure quote from Coach McKinstry (part 2)

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.