FUFA Contemplating On Sacking Mckinstry

Federation of Uganda Football Association, FUFA, is set to make a final decision on the future of Uganda Cranes coach Jonathan Mckinstry.

FUFA boss Moses Magogo has confirmed the development, saying that a technical team is examining McKinstry’s results and a decision is set to be taken soon.

This follows the Cranes dismal performance at the concluded 2020 Africa Nations Championship in Cameroon where Mckinstry’s side failed to get out of the groups for a fifth attempt.

Uganda finished at the bottom of Group C with just a point thanks to the draw against Rwanda and two defeats against Morocco and debutants Togo.

Uganda, last year, lost 1-0 to minnows South Sudan in AFCON Qualifiers game played at a neutral venue in Kenya.

The side had earlier needed a late Halid Lwaliwa goal to squeeze a result in the reverse fixture at Kitende.

Magogo appearing on NBS TV Sunday show The Score, when asked to give his opinion on Mckinstry’s reign so far, said that he doesn’t want to “preempt the technical team that is going to evaluate the coach.”

“There is an evaluation which is going on, and I always listen to my technical people, even during the appointments, my job is to say yes or no.

“I am not saying we are going to fire him or not, but the fact is that there is an evaluation ongoing.

“At the moment, we are taking stock of what he has done since he arrived here and whatever the technical report that will come to us in the next few days, we will come out with a final decision.

“And as FUFA, we are not shy with our decision – We will come out and say that we we have discontinued our engagement or we are giving him an approval.

“I have my personal view as a (Uganda Cranes) fan but I believe that the technical people are better in analysing.”

Mckinstry (middle) and fufa officials. FUFA photo

The Northern Irishman was highly criticised for his poor team selection, including playing some players out of positions like Shafic Kagimu.

Prior to CHAN, Mckinstry fell out with coach Fred Kajoba and recommended that his goalkeeping coach be fired after he breached Covid19 rules in camp.

The UEFA Pro Coach has had stints with Rwanda and Sierra Leone National teams and also coached FK Kauno Zalgris (Lithuania), SAIF (Bangladesh) among others.

He was appointed the Uganda Cranes head coach for three years, with his deal effective October 1, 2019.

He took over from Frenchman Sebastien Desabre who guided the Cranes to 2019 AFCON knockout.

Micho who was succeeded by Desabre guided the Cranes to their 2017 AFCON, breaking a 39-year jinx.

Magogo said that both coaches – Micho and Desabre – also faced similar turbulence but he managed to stand with them during tough times.

He revealed: “When the technical people have done their evaluation, I have also come out – When they wanted to fire Micho, I came out and said that he should be given more time and I was later justified. I said the same during Desabre’s early days when results were not coming, and I am proud of my decision.”

If Mckinstry survives the knife this time, his reign will come to and end if he fails to take the Uganda Cranes to Africa Cup of Nations.

Uganda sit second in Group B of the AFCON Qualifiers with seven points, one below Burkina Faso.

The side will host Burkina Faso before visiting Malawi in the penultimate game next month.


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