McKinstry ticks boxes at Namboole bow
Johnny McKinstry’s face glowed upon the full-time whistle after the Uganda Cranes’ coach made a winning start at Namboole Stadium yesterday. The Northern Irishman confidently spoke to the media and had kept with aplomb as the Cranes blew out Malawi’s Flames 2-0 to go top of Group B in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.
“A very tough game,” McKinstry described his first home competitive encounter since taking the Cranes’ job on September 30.
“The pitch was a bit of a challenge for both teams but I think we did our best,” McKinstry stated after the Cranes’ 17th clean sheet in 20 home Afcon qualifier matches, stretching back to May 31, 2008.
In moments where players couldn’t control the ball within the white lines, McKinstry could only rest his hands on his waist. A times, he calmly waited for a perfect moment, arms folded or, rather choosing to share a word with his technical team mainly Alex McCarthy back on the bench.
“First of all, full credit to Malawi, they are an energetic team and we didn’t expect them to last that long with the energy.
“For us, football is about moments. And I think in those key moments, we took the advantage,” the former Sierra Leone and Rwanda added.
Standing at the right corner of the technical area, McKinstry first sipped from a bottle of water after 26 minutes, later gesturing a fist-pump when Okwi sent the stadium wild.
Uganda Premier League’s current top-scorer eight-goal man Bayo of Vipers covered up for two first-half misses with the goal in the 68th minute to ooze a scintillating somersault celebration.
Which coach won’t take two wins and a draw without conceding in his first competitive outings? Great start but with more work to do!
