Jonathan McKinstry has bemoaned his utmost frustration with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) continuous decision to turn down The Gambia’s plea to play its home matches at the newly renovated Independence Stadium.   

During a question and answer session with journalists organised by the Sports Journalists Association Of The Gambia (SJAG), coach Jonathan McKinstry disclosed that it is “frustrating” to play home matches away from home.   

“It is incredibly frustrating and disappointing. I can tell you is the same for the players, all the staff, everyone is desperate to play at home,” the coach said.

In Jonathan McKinstry’s comparison, the Stade Olympique Hamadi-Agrebi football field where The Gambia last played away to the Eagles of Carthage of Tunisia among other stadiums in Africa is not better than the current state of the playing pitch of the Gambia’s Independence Stadium. 

“I would tell you the pitch that we played against Tunisia and Madagascar in Morocco is the same quality as the pitch of our stadium today. The pitch of our stadium is better than the pitch we have played and lost away against Gabon. It is the same standard with multiple pitches that are certified in the continent and indeed in Europe,” Jonathan McKinstry lamented.

The leadership of the SJAG, the umbrella body for sports journalists in the Gambia organised a special “IFTAR” with Jonathan McKinstry, the coach of The Gambia national team with 20 selected journalists in a question and answer session at a local restaurant in Fajara, Bakau.

By Ebrima KB Sonko