Gambia Head Coach Johnathan McKinstry Opens Up on His Special Bond with Kenya

Johnathan McKinstry may have masterminded Gambia’s emphatic 3-1 victory over Harambee Stars at Kasarani Stadium on Friday, but for the former Gor Mahia coach, the return to Nairobi was about far more than just three points.

The Northern Irish tactician, who guided Gor Mahia to back-to-back FKF Premier League titles before departing in 2024, admitted that stepping back into Kasarani stirred emotions and memories of his successful spell in Kenyan football.

“I didn’t come back to prove a point. For me, I feel at home here. Kenya was very kind to me. I came here, worked extremely hard, and I hope people saw that during my time. I built relationships that still last to this day,” McKinstry reflected after the match.

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McKinstry explained that he stuck to one of his long-held rituals when coaching at Kasarani—walking once around the pitch before kick-off, something he believes brought luck during his Gor Mahia tenure.

“Even before the match, as I always did when I was Gor Mahia coach, I walked once around the pitch—not on the grass, but around it. I repeated it today because I felt it brought good memories of winning here,” he said with a smile.

On the night, his side executed the plan to perfection. Sheriff Shinyan opened the scoring from a Yankuba Minteh corner before Minteh himself doubled the lead on the counter. The Brighton winger later turned provider for Musa Barrow, who capitalized on a defensive slip to make it 3-0 before halftime. Kenya pulled one back late through Ryan Ogam, but by then the game was long gone.

Despite inflicting a painful defeat on his former football home, McKinstry was keen to stress that Kenya still occupies a special place in his heart.

“I know there were reports that I had issues with some football fans, but if you actually know the game, you’d realize every single one of those people were part of my staff—the kitmen, the security, the assistants. Those relationships don’t die just because you’ve left,” he explained.

McKinstry also praised the Kenyan players’ resilience, noting how even at 3-0 down they kept fighting, something he believes speaks volumes about their character.

For the Gambian coach, Friday’s win was not just about three points in World Cup qualification, but also a reminder of how far his young Scorpions side has come. Still, he left a parting message to the Kenyan supporters who once cheered him on from the same stands he conquered once again.

“Now we move on to the next game, but hopefully, the Kenyan fans enjoyed watching our players today as much as we enjoyed playing.”