AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani has attributed his side’s sluggish start to their lackluster performance in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Kariobangi Sharks.
The stalemate saw Ingwe drop crucial points in their push for a higher league position.
Ambani acknowledged that his players struggled to find their rhythm in the first half and, despite showing some improvement after the break, never fully regained control of the game.
“Maybe we didn’t get things right in the first half because our strategy wasn’t working as planned. We made some adjustments in the second half, and there was a slight improvement, but it wasn’t enough,” Ambani remarked.
The coach further admitted that his squad felt the weight of expectation, with the pressure to score affecting their performance.
“Traditionally, we start games strongly, but when we fail to capitalize early, the players feel the pressure to score, and it affects their decision-making,” the former Leopards forward noted.
The draw leaves AFC Leopards in sixth place on the FKF Premier League table with 30 points, trailing league leaders Kenya Police by eight points. It was their second draw of the year, having previously been held 1-1 by Murang’a Seal.
Despite the setback, Ambani remains optimistic about the team’s prospects, particularly with key players returning from injury. He pointed to the comeback of Ovella Ochieng’ as a boost, though he acknowledged the forward may need time to regain full match fitness.
“Our game plan was solid, but having several players returning from injury made things challenging. Ovella, for instance, has been out for a while, and it’s not easy to slot back into an intense game like this immediately,” Ambani explained.
AFC Leopards will be looking to bounce back when they face Sofapaka in their next league fixture.
