Published on: May 22, 2024 01:30 (EAT)
Johnathan McKinstry has been officially named new head coach of the Gambia
football team on a two-year contract, with one of his goals to secure the
team’s place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 38-year-old Northern Irishman, who fills the vacuum left by
the Belgian Tom Saintfiet, has extensive coaching experience in Africa.
He came out on top after 90 initial applications was eventually
whittled down to three.
“The National Sports Council under the Ministry of Youth and
Sports is delighted to announce the appointment of a Senior National Football
Team Coach, in the person of Mr. Johnathan McKinstry,” read a statement
from the Gambian National Sports Council.
“In this regard, the general public is hereby informed that
Johnathan McKinstry has been appointed on two years contract by the Ministry of
Youth and Sports.”
Gambia is the fourth African national side he will have taken
charge of — Sierra Leone the first in 2013, followed by Rwanda (2015-16) and
Uganda (2019-2021).
His last coaching post was from 2022-2024 with Kenyan club side
Gor Mahia, which he guided to winning their record 21st FKF Premier
League title last weekend.
Saintfiet
announced in January he was stepping down after five-and-a-half years at the
helm — his contract ran till 2026 — in which he guided the
“Scorpions” to the quarter-finals of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations
in what was their maiden appearance.
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