FUFA Asks Cranes Coach McKinstry to ‘Step Aside’

The Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) has asked Uganda Cranes head coach Jonathan McKinstry to step aside from his national team duties for a period of one month.

McKinstry has been temporarily relieved of his duties from 2nd to 31st March 2021 as the senior side prepares for crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifications games against Burkina Faso and Malawi.

An official FUFA statement seen by ChimpReports confirmed the development on Tuesday evening.

‘‘The FUFA Executive Committee has asked the Head Coach of the National Senior side-The Uganda Cranes Mr. Johnathan McKinstry to step aside from managing and coaching the team for the period from 2nd- 31st March 2021,” the FUFA statement partly reads.

“In the meantime Assistant Coaches Mr. Mubiru Abdallah, Mr. Mbabazi Livingstone and goalkeeping coach Mr. Kajoba Fred will take charge of the team during this period.”

“The rest of the Technical team remains unchanged. FUFA will use the period to assess and monitor the performance of the team,” the statement continued.

The development arrives in the wake of Uganda Cranes’ poor display in the 2021 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament where the team failed to go past the group stages.

Uganda also struggled to edge South Sudan (1-0) at home in the 2021 AFCON qualifiers double header before losing the return leg with the same score on a neutral ground in Kenya.

Uganda Cranes will play host to Burkina Faso on March 24 at the St Mary’s Stadium Kitende before winding up the qualifying campaign against Malawi away from home, five days later.

The Northern Irishman was appointed the Uganda Cranes head coach last year in September, succeeding Frenchman Sebastien Desabre.

Since his arrival, Mckinstry has so far managed 14 games, winning nine, drawing twice, and lost three games.

Uganda Cranes is currently 2nd in group B on seven points, one shy of leaders Burkina Faso. Malawi (4pts) and South Sudan (3pts) follow in that order.