The Gambia national football team players might not have a clear picture of the kind of players they will come up against when they face Harambee Stars on Thursday night. The two countries will clash in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match, that will be staged at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ivory Coast, starting from 10 pm (East African Time). However, two individuals on the Gambian technical bench have valuable insights into the players they will face on Thursday, including their strengths and weaknesses. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8789835##Coach Jonathan McKinstry definitely has a good understanding of the team having tutored some of the players, and followed the Stars’ matches, during his two-year stay at Gor Mahia. The Northern Irishman won the league with Gor Mahia in the 2022-2023 and in the 2023-2024 seasons, before leaving for the Gambian job following the expiry of his two-year long deal with K’Ogalo. Michael Igendia is the other Gambian technical bench member, who possesses full knowledge of the Kenyan team having worked with nearly all players and some members of the Stars bench. Harambee Stars captain Olunga confident in Kenya’s World Cup qualifying chancesThe Kenyan joined the Gambian bench, in June last year, as the team’s Strength and Conditioning coach, reuniting with McKinstry, whom he worked with at Gor between January- June 2023.Igendia served as the Head of Sports Science at Football Kenya Federation (FKF) between March 2016 to November 2020 with his main role being the senior national teams. Prior to joining FKF, he worked as the Strength and Conditioning coach at Gor Mahia between June 2012 to April 2013.His skills and qualifications earned him a job at English club AFC Bournemouth as a Sports Masseur, a role he held between August 2013 to May 2014.Igendia joined Wazito as the Head of Sports Science in January 2021 and would work with the defunct side until July 2022.McKinstry cautious ahead of Gambia’s World Cup qualifier against Harambee StarsTanzanian giants Simba secured his services in July 2023 as the Head of Sports Science until October last year. He also worked as a video analyst with the Football Association of Finland, albeit on internship, during his master’s studies. Igendia is a Master’s Degree in Sports Science from the University of Jyvaskyla having graduated in 2015.
