- Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has urged Kenyans to give Gambia national team manager Jonathan McKinstry a warm welcome upon his return to the country.
- Kenya is set to face The Gambia on Friday, September 5, at 4:00 PM EAT in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
- McKinstry, a Northern Irish international, previously coached Gor Mahia for two years until 2024, leading the club to back-to-back Kenyan Premier League titles.
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has called upon Kenyan fans to give Gambia’s national team manager Jonathan McKinstry a warm welcome as Kenya vs Gambia face off on Friday 5 for their 2026 World Cup Qualifier clash.
McKinstry, who previously coached the record Premier League champions Gor Mahia and secured two titles for the club, returns to the country a year after leaving the club to take up his current role with the Gambian national team.
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From 4:00 PM EAT at the Moi International Sport Center, Kasarani, he will be facing some of the very players he once coached at Gor Mahia who are still in the national team squad, but this time as their opponent.
Speaking ahead of the match during a training session on Monday, McCarthy revealed that McKinstry has a formidable team and that his prior experience coaching in the country gives him an advantage in this encounter.
He knows the Kenyan Premier League well; he also knows the players and their caliber, which is good.
I faced him once, and it was an unfortunate draw for us because we thought we could have taken the maximum points.
He really has a strong team in Gambia with top-quality players.
So we will have to be extremely alert and aware, but it is a challenge we are anticipating because we are focused on collecting as many points as possible, and this is our first game,” McCarthy stated.
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Benni McCarthy appeals to fans for a decent welcome for McKinstry but fierce support
Benni McCarthy also called upon Kenyan fans to give the Northern Irish international a gracious welcome.
He hopes that the supporters, especially those of Gor Mahia, will remember his achievements and offer him a very respectful reception.
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However, once the match begins, he urged Kenyans to rally behind the national team, Harambee Stars, to make it difficult for Jonathan to earn any points on the road, a scenario he joked about.
I hope he will get a decent welcome back because of what he accomplished with Gor Mahia in the past. I hope the fans will remember him for that and give him a warm welcome.
But when the game kicks off, I hope Kenyans will rally behind the team as only they can and make life a bit difficult for Gambia. I don’t think it is the ideal homecoming he would have wished for.”
