Former Gor Mahia Coach Johnathan McKinstry Explains Kenya’s Limited Representation in European Football

Former Gor Mahia manager Johnathan McKinstry has shared his insights into the lack of Kenyan and East African players in European football, particularly when compared to their counterparts in West Africa.

The 39-year-old Northern Irish coach has a wealth of experience in East Africa, having begun his managerial career with Rwanda in 2015, where he led the team to a bronze medal at the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in the same year.

His coaching journey began in 2013 as the head coach for Sierra Leone, where he achieved the national side’s highest-ever FIFA World Ranking after the previous Swedish coach Lars-Olof Mattsson stepped down. He later went on to coach Uganda’s national team in 2019, leading the Cranes to victory at the CECAFA Cup, where they won all six matches in the tournament.

Desire to Sacrifice Among East African Players

According to McKinstry, who has secured two Kenyan Premier League titles with record champions Gor Mahia before taking the reins of the Gambia national team, players from Kenya and East Africa lack the willingness to make sacrifices for the opportunity to play in Europe.

“It’s really about the sporting character, not just in Kenya but across East Africa. I’ve noticed similar trends in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda during my time there,” stated McKinstry when asked about the limited number of East African players making their way to Europe.

He further expressed that many players in the region seem to lack the ambition and drive to pursue professional football overseas compared to their West African peers. “I’ve been to Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Gambia, and what stands out in West Africa is the intense drive among young players. At the age of 15, they don’t aspire to play in their local leagues, like the Ghanaian Premier League or the Sierra Leone Premier League.”

McKinstry, who was honoured as Coach of the Year for the Kenyan Premier League in the 2024 season, elaborated: “It’s not that they simply want to, but they feel a need to play at a professional level. They’re willing to endure playing in lower-tier leagues in Eastern Europe, proving themselves step by step towards greater achievements.

“While financial rewards don’t come instantly, these players are prepared to accept lower salaries initially to secure a place in a professional environment, which could offer them a more solid path to Europe.

“For instance, consider Abdoulie Ceesay, currently with the Gambia squad at FC St. Pauli in the Bundesliga. Not too long ago, he was playing in the Gambian league as a teenager. He took the leap to Estonia, and although some questioned why he would go there, ”

“But he made that move to Estonia, netted 17 goals in just 20 appearances over six months, leading to a transfer to St. Pauli in the Bundesliga. He was willing to take that crucial step, while in Kenya and East Africa, many young players desire to reach the top but may not be ready to make the necessary sacrifices.”

Attractive Local League Contracts

McKinstry noted that another significant barrier preventing players from migrating to Europe is the lucrative contracts offered by local leagues, which often entice players to sign long-term deals, thereby limiting their opportunities to explore international avenues.

The coach, whose previous roles included youth development with Newcastle United, New York Red Bulls, the Right to Dream Academy, and the Craig Bellamy Foundation, cited the lucrative earnings in leagues like those in Rwanda and Kenya, where players can earn up to $10,000 a month, a sum that supports a comfortable lifestyle.

“The financial packages from clubs like Gor Mahia, Bandari FC, and Kenya Police are relatively substantial, certainly more so than what many West African leagues offer. In Uganda and Rwanda too, players can earn between $5,000 and $6,000 a month,” elaborated McKinstry.

“In the Tanzanian league, salaries can reach close to $10,000 each month, prompting players to feel comfortable taking multi-year contracts, often leading them to remain in their home leagues for their entire careers. While this may elevate the overall standard of local leagues, it can stifle the emergence of those standout players who might make it to Europe.”

He added, “Taking Yankuba Minteh’s journey from Gambia to Odense BK in Denmark as an example, his exceptional performance there led to a transfer to Newcastle United, followed by a loan to Feyenoord, and currently to Brighton & Hove Albion, all before turning 21. He approached these challenges with the right mentality.

“Throughout my experience in Kenya, and East Africa more broadly, I’ve noticed a relative scarcity of players willing to take on that challenge. While I’m not saying there aren’t young Kenyans with such ambitions, the country’s population size does not yield a proportionate number of players who make the move to Europe.”

Currently, Kenya has a number of players making their mark in Europe, including defender Joseph Okumu with French Ligue 1 side Stade Reims. Notable names also include defender Richard Odada from the Serbian SuperLiga club OFK Beograd, on loan from Dundee United, striker Michael Olunga at Qatar Stars League club Al-Duhail, and Jonah Ayunga representing Scottish Premiership side St. Mirren.

Other prominent figures from Kenya are left-back Eric Ouma, who plays for Polish club Raków Częstochowa, right-back Daniel Anyembe at Danish Superliga club Viborg FF, Collins Sichenje of Serbian SuperLiga club Vojvodina, on loan from AIK in Sweden, defender Johnstone Omurwa Otieno with Abha, and striker Masoud Juma of Esteghlal Team in the Saudi Pro League.