Former Sierra Leone head coach Johnny McKinstry has expressed interest in the vacancy for the position of Amavubi head coach to replace Englishman Stephen Constantine who resigned last month.

The 29-year-old was in charge of the Leone Stars from April 2013 until September 2014 when he was sacked after the West African side failed to qualify for the ongoing 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

In an exclusive interview with Times Sport, McKinstry said, "The opportunity to coach the Rwanda national football team is one that I am intrigued by, and interested in discussing with the powers that be at Ferwafa.”

"Primarily, is there a chance for success; as some opportunities that arise, you start from a bad position? Obviously hard work is always a key ingredient, but you want there to be a chance of success at the outset, and I do enjoy a challenge,” explained the optimistic tactician who was named the youngest active head coach in international football in 2013.

McKinstry added, "With the Leone Stars, we took a very progressive approach to the team. We gave out 14 debuts in the 18 months I was in charge, and lowered the average age of the squad from 30 to 23; all while moving the team higher in the FIFA ranking from the mid-90s when I arrived, to a record high position of 50th in the World and seventh in Africa.”

It is against this background therefore that the Briton is looking forward to an opportunity to work with the Amavubi.

"I strongly believe that with the right mixture of hard work, innovation and a defined, attractive playing philosophy, that the coming years could be very exciting for everyone involved with football in Rwanda. Not just with Chan 2016, but also looking forward to Afcon 2017, and the qualification process for the World Cup in 2018.”

Meanwhile, sources close to this newspaper have revealed that former Zimbabwe head coach Roy Barreto has also expressed interest in the job.

Last week, former Rayon Sports head coach Andy Magloire Mfutila expressed interest in taking up the vacant position despite failing to register a single win with the Blues since November last year till he was fired on Monday.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw