AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani has expressed his frustration after the club’s third consecutive draw in the FKF Premier League, a result that has left both him and the fans dissatisfied. The 0-0 draw against Bandari at Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday continued the club’s winless streak, following draws against Sofapaka and Posta Rangers in their opening matches.
Ambani was quick to acknowledge that the team’s performance was “not good enough” and admitted the pressure was mounting as the team failed to secure a win in the first three matches of the season. The coach also acknowledged that the frustration among fans was evident, with some supporters gathering in the parking lot near the team bus to express their displeasure with the result.
The draw came after Ambani decided to experiment with a new formation, opting to start the match without natural wingers. He selected Tyson Otieno and Elias Muriuki in place of regular wide players Ronald Sichenje and Victor Otieno, hoping that this tactical change would spark the team’s attack. However, the change yielded little in terms of creating meaningful scoring opportunities. Ambani admitted that the shift in tactics had not paid off, and the team struggled to break down Bandari’s defense, which ultimately led to another frustrating draw.
“We are not happy with a third consecutive draw. It is not good enough. It simply has not been easy,” said Ambani, reflecting on the team’s inability to find the back of the net. He went on to explain that the decision to experiment with the formation was an attempt to break the team’s scoring drought, but the results were far from what was expected. “The boys tried to do well with the changes but it did not work. I think we are just being unlucky,” Ambani added.
Despite the disappointing result, the coach appealed to the club’s loyal supporters to remain patient with the team’s progress. Ambani promised that the team was working hard to improve and regain their winning form. “First, the fans have been very patient, but I plead with them to stay so. We have to beg for forgiveness for what happened today. I can only promise them that things will get better moving forward.”
The team’s next match against KCB has been postponed following the decision by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to suspend all league matches as the nation mourns the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The suspension has provided Ambani and his players with additional time to regroup and work on their strategy ahead of their next fixture.
