Afcon Qualifiers in mind as Mckinstry makes Cranes bow
Kampala. The nature of international football dictates that coaches never get as much time as they would want to prepare for competitive games. That is the situation new Cranes coach Johnny Mckinstry finds himself in since being appointed a fortnight ago as he takes charge of his first Cranes game away to Ethiopia in Bahrdar Town.
Having summoned a squad consisting mainly foreign based players, today’s game represents the best opportunity to assess the players’ abilities with next month’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Burkina Faso in mind.
“The squad that has been summoned is largely reflective of the team that was selected for Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The primary reason is to allow myself to get to know the players, start building relationships with them and assess their qualities in a training environment,” Mckinstry said in an interview on the Fufa website.
As Mckinstry assesses the players’ performance, he will also be under scrutiny back home with Cranes fans eager to see his approach to the game.
“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 told Daily Monitor in an earlier interview.
One of his first assignments include identifying Godfrey Walusimbi’s successor with the left back having announced his national team retirement this past week. He will have to choose between Czech based Isaac Muleme, his former understudy from their days at SC Villa and TP Mazembe’s Joseph Ochaya.
With Mike Azira and Khalid Aucho pulling out, Wakiso Giants’ Kirizestom Ntambi and Vipers forward Allan Kayiwa were called up while Derrick Nsibambi also got the nod. But the attack is expected to be headed by Patrick Kaddu while Abdu Lumala and Kizito Luwagga will shoulder the creativity burden.
