Cranes' Mckinstry not shutting door on domestic league players


Cranes coach Jonathan Mckinstry has made no secret of the fact that he favours foreign based players over those in the domestic league.
 
This was further highlighted last week when the Northern Irishman summoned a 20-man squad of foreign based players ahead of the 2021 AFCON Qualifier home and away fixture against South Sudan.
 
This left him with a limited number of slots of about five to six players for the two games that are expected to be played in a space of four days.
 
He is however not completely shutting the door on the players insisting the door remains open to whoever proves their worth which would also aid them secure clubs abroad.
 
The more Ugandan football grows, the less and less local players will play for the national team.
 
"When I was coaching Sierra Leone, all our players played in Europe, but I'd be forced to call someone playing at AC Millan rather than one in the lower division because of the level at AC Milan.
 
"When you do well in the UPL, you definitely move to a better club that should encourage local based players,” Mckinstry said in an interview on local radio K-FM over the weekend.
 
“What I have noticed about players in the domestic league is the fear to make mistakes. We intended to have more engagements with domestic league clubs but this arrangement has been disrupted by Covid-19."
 
"Players must be empowered to speak and speak out, to act. That translates to the pitch during the match," he further added.
 
Among the local based players expected to be called up for the qualifier include Vipers defender Halid Lwalirwa as well as midfielders Shafik Kagimu and Bright Anukani.
 
AFCON 2022 (finals PP from 2021) qualifying fixture dates

November 12: Uganda vs South Sudan, 4pm, St Mary's, Kitende
November 16: South Sudan vs Uganda, 7pm, Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi
Match Day 5 and 6 (22nd – 30th March 2021)
 

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Published: 10/27/2020