Gambia trainer McKinstry reunites with Gor Mahia after victory over Kenya
By Luke Oluoch, September 6, 2025Former Gor Mahia and Gambia national team coach Johnny McKinstry has been a conspicuous figure at the club’s preseason camp this Saturday, September 6, 2025, ahead of the 2025 season.
The Northern Irishman paid a visit to his former team as the KPL giants beat Posta Rangers 2-0 in a friendly clash as the record KPL champions bolster up their preparations for the new season.
During the friendly, he occasionally issued instructions to his former players and the new members of the team now under Ghanaian tactician Charles Akonnor.
Association with Gor
McKinstry left Gor Mahia at the end of the 2024 season, after leading them to two league titles, to take up a new role at the helm of the Gambia national team, the Scorpions.
His love for Nairobi and association with the club has, however, remained burning in spite of taking a different career path away from K’Ogalo.
McKinstry landed in the country a few days before the World Cup qualification clash against Kenya, way before the team and the Gambian delegation followed.
The reunion comes after his Gambian charges delivered a football lesson to Benni McCarthy’s team in Friday’s qualifier at Moi Kasarani.
The defeat dealt the ultimate blow to Kenya as dreams for a maiden qualification to the global soccer bonanza went up in smoke.
The coach was, however, proud of the fighting spirit exhibited by the Kenyans even in the face of defeat.
“Kenya’s work rate is remarkable. When they were 3-0 down, they never stopped running. Credit to their coaches and players. But in the end, we knew our technical quality would show,” he said.
With the win, Gambia climbed to eight points, surpassing Kenya, which remains on six. McCarthy’s Harambee Stars now face three fixtures that carry no weight in qualification, leaving the South African coach with the challenge of reshaping the squad for the long term.