AFC Leopards’ interim coach, Fred Ambani, has expressed his desire to win the Premier League with the club, a goal that would be a personal milestone after he led them to the title and finished as top scorer 26 years ago as a player
Ambani led Ingwe to their final match of 2024 on Sunday evening at the Dandora Stadium, where they defeated Bandari FC 2-0, boosting their hopes in the league standings and keeping them alive in the title race. They currently sit in fifth place with 22 points, five points behind league leaders KCB and Tusker FC.
A brilliant second-half strike by Ronald Sichenje broke the deadlock, and Victor Omune’s second goal secured Ambani’s third win as coach.
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Speaking after the match, Ambani congratulated the players for their hard work, despite the team being hit by several injuries. He praised their positive attitude and determination to achieve good results.
“I want to first thank God, because without Him, I don’t think we could have managed. Secondly, I want to thank the players for their resilience. It has not been easy, especially with a small squad due to many injuries, yet they have remained positive and delivered results. They stepped up for the sidelined players, and that was a big positive,” Ambani said.
He also explained the key tactics that have led to the team’s strong performances. Ambani emphasized that ensuring the players are tactically fit is important, but he also sees his role as a parent, helping maintain discipline and fostering good relationships within the team.
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“All I can say is I had to sit with the players and show them that matches are more important than anything else. I made them understand that without them, we cannot win. Even if you are tactically fit, if you do not have a good relationship with your teammates, you will struggle.” He added.
“I also had to act as a parent, correcting mistakes when needed.”
The former Wazito FC head coach expressed his dream of leading the club to the title. He encouraged the players to work toward that goal, saying it would be a historic achievement for him personally, as he was the club’s top scorer when Ingwe last won the league title 26 years ago in 1998.
“I have told the boys to take inspiration from me. I have played here, and I am not here to guess; I am here to help them deliver. Winning the league with this team would be the best thing to happen in my life. It would be historic,” he said.
Ambani also mentioned that the club plans to make signings in January to strengthen the squad, particularly in the wing-back positions, which he identified as an area of need.
“If you look at the team, not all the players are available, so we will bring in a few players to strengthen the squad. Most likely, we will sign wing-backs because that is where we are lacking,” Ambani reiterated.
When asked about his future with the club, Ambani declined to comment, stating that the decision lies with the fans and the club’s management.
