Nairobi City Stars’ new tactician, Salim Babu, has reflected on his team’s 1-0 loss to AFC Leopards on Sunday evening at the Dandora Stadium, emphasizing that despite the defeat, the players put in a solid performance and he remains confident that wins are on the horizon.
Leopards, playing away, found it difficult to break down the Simba wa Nairobi defense, with several attempts failing to find the back of the net.
The solitary goal of the match came from a penalty in the 73rd minute after Victor Otieno was fouled inside the box.
Kayci Odhiambo stepped up to convert the spot kick, securing his first league goal for the club and the three points for Ingwe.
The victory lifted the 12-time top-flight champions into fourth place on the table with 29 points (8W, 5D, 5L), eight points behind league leaders Police FC and Tusker FC, both on 37 points.
City Stars, on the other hand, suffered their 10th defeat of the season, leaving them in 16th place with 17 points, just two spots above the relegation zone.
Play here and stand a chance of winning the over 401 Million SportPesa Mega Jackpot
However, Babu, who has been in charge for two matches, emphasized that the team played well and deserved at least a draw, if not a win.
They were coming off a 1-0 setback against Bandari in their previous match.
“We had a week of preparation since we left Mombasa, and we were well-prepared for this match. We deserved a point because we played as we had planned. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side, but we’ll keep pushing for those three points,” Babu said after the match.
“Tactically, my players executed the plan well. We aimed to score early, but time wasn’t on our side.”
ALSO READ: Bandari FC humble hosts Murang’a Seal as most clubs settle for draws
He further clarified that the loss was not due to tactical mistakes but rather a few small errors that they’ll work on addressing moving forward.
“The issue today was not major. In the early minutes, we lacked that final push, but those are things we can improve. In the next match, we’ll be even better,” he concluded.
ALSO READ: Mavs boss defends Doncic-Davis deal as trade stuns NBA