McKinstry explains why Ernest Wendo started ahead of Kevin Juma in draw with Homeboyz

Ernest Wendo returned to the starting line up against Kakamega Homeboyz. Photo Credit || Gor Mahia

FKFPL McKinstry explains why Ernest Wendo started ahead of Kevin Juma in draw with Homeboyz

Mark Kinyanjui 13:31 - 25.09.2023

Gor Mahia have used Ernest Wendo sparingly since the signing of Kevin Juma from Nzoia Sugar.

Gor Mahia head coach Johnathan McKinstry has explained why he brought back Ernest Wendo into the starting lineup during their 1-1 draw with Kakamega Homeboyz on Sunday.

The experienced midfielder has not gotten a lot of action this season following the signing of Kevin Juma from Nzoia Sugar.

McKinstry, who has set his team up this season with Juma as a deep-lying playmaker who can control the tempo of their match with Alpha Onyango being the box-to-box presence and Austin Odhiambo being the creative hub, opted to bring back Wendo into the line-up and play Onyango further forward.

“Earnest has a huge amount of experience. Obviously, he came in. When Kevin Juma came in and got a start in the opening match of the season, we say that when you come in, do a good job and keep the shirt, I am not going to bench you," McKinstry said.

“Kevin’s performances were such that we did not want to change that number six position. Today is a game where we felt that a double pivot, two number sixes there because of the direct football we knew we could encounter against Homeboyz and I thought Earnest did very well.”

McKinstry, who witnessed his team's 4-1 triumph over Nairobi City Stars in their previous encounter, recognised the formidable challenge posed by Homeboyz, who had also tasted victory, beating former champions Tusker 2-1 in their last match.

Meanwhile, the former Uganda Cranes coach praised his two center backs Kennedy ‘Vidic’ Onyango and Joshua Onyango for their “strength” at center back.

“Kennedy and Joshua Onyango were very strong at center back today and overall, a draw is a fair result, and a lot of teams will come here in Kakamega and go home with nothing, so that point will feel like more than a point come the end of the season I am sure.”

While the result might not have been the third consecutive win Gor Mahia hoped for this season, it did see their points tally rise to eight, keeping them within touching distance of the top spots in the league.