McKinstry will vary playing style on road to Qatar 2022

Johnny McKinstry cut a happy and optimistic figure as he - clad in a grey suit - shook hands with Fufa CEO Edgar Watson and communications head Ahmed Hussein on arrival at Mengo.

The only times he occasionally allowed a smile to take a break from his boyish look he was listening intently to a question being asked at his unveiling press conference yesterday.
This was a happy man. This is a happy man. After a long held dream of a man who has risen through the ranks rather steadily fast, the Uganda Cranes coaching job was it. This was it!

"First of all," started the 34-year-old Northern Irishman, "I'm very honoured and privileged that Fufa made me the offer to come and manage the team.

Burning desire
"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 honoured and excited for weeks and months ahead."

"For me," he added, "Yes I'd love to coach at the Nations Cup but it's been a burning desire to coach at the World Cup and this position (Uganda Cranes job) is where you can achieve a lot.

"I see Uganda as a great opportunity to do that and that wouldn't be a great thing only for me and Fufa, but for the whole of Uganda."

The former Sporting Saif, Rwanda, Sierra Leone coach added that while Fufa's mid-term target is qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, "We will try Qatar 2020, too."

McKinstry arrives at a time the national team's fortunes are on the upward trend.
Former Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic helped the country end a four-decade absence from Afcon finals, while his successor Desabre not only maintained the Serbian's standards, but he qualified the team to the knockout stage.
"Naturally, we want to go further," said McKinstry, "and with time, get out of Africa and also try the World Cup. We have a group of talented players I believe we can achieve great things together."

Playing style
On his style of play, McKinstry said "I love to score goals, to keep fans on the edge and to play entertaining football.

"But of course I have to look at the players and see the style that fits. Sometimes all we want will be three points and I have no apologies for that."

McKinstry is said to have beaten 2017 Africa Cup of Nations winning coach with Cameroon Hugo Broos and Belgian Luc Eymael, who reportedly made the final three.
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."
McKinstry has previously worked at New York Red Bulls, Craig Bellamy Academy in Sierra Leone and Sierra Leone national team, whom he led to 50th in Fifa ranking, the country's highest ever.

He then led Rwanda to the 2016 African Nations Championship quarterfinals in Kigali. He has been coach of Bangladesh outfit Saif SC until he tendered in his resignation at the weekend to take over at Cranes.

Cranes head coach
Johnny McKinstry

Support staff in the interim
First assistant: Abdallah Mubiru
Second assistant/Trainer: Livingstone Mbabazi

2020 Chan qualifying fixtures
October 18: Uganda vs Burundi

2021 Afcon qualifying fixtures
November 11: Burkina Faso vs Uganda
November 19: Uganda vs Malawi

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