Today, 30th September 2020 marks exactly one year since Johnathan Mckinstry was officially unveiled as Uganda Cranes head coach. He took over from French man Sebastein Desabre who mutually left his role days after the 2019 TOTAL Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Egypt .
Mckinstry, a Northern Irish born coach and a holder of UEFA Pro License came atop a big field of applicants and stiff competition to earn the job after resigning from Bangaladesh club Saif FC.
Mckinstry began his stint with the Cranes on a winning note off a 0-1 win against Ethiopia at Bahir Dar Stadium. Forward Emmanuel Arnold Okwi was on target that day.
The victory away in Ethiopia set a firm foundation as he has won 9 of the 10 matches played thus far, drawing once with no game lost.
Out of the ten games, the Uganda Cranes have scored 20 goals with 8 coming in the first half while 12 have come in the second half.
Two goals have been conceded under his helm against Burundi and Djibouti both in the 2019 CECAFA tournament.
The CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup trophy is the only trophy is his trophy cabinet so far after Cranes beat Eritrea 3-0 thanks to Bright Anukani, Mustafa Kizza and Joel Madondo strikes.
McKinstry works alongside a committed team of former Uganda Cranes internationals; Abdallah Mubiru (first assistant), Charles Livingstone Mbazazi (second assistant) and Fred Kajoba Kisitu (Goalkeeping coach) as well as Alexander McCarthy (Trainer) and Geofrey Massa (Team coordinator)
According to the FUFA website, Uganda Cranes will be traveling to Dubai for a training camp (6th – 13th October 2020) as a precursor for the AFCON 2021 double header against South Sudan in November 2020.
