AFC Leopards manager Fred Ambani has revealed how his tactical approach against Kariobangi Sharks failed to deliver the desired results, leading to a 0-0 draw on Sunday evening at the Dandora Stadium in Nairobi.
Leopards, who desperately needed three points to climb into fourth place and stay in contention for the title alongside Tusker FC, Police and defending champions Gor Mahia were thwarted by missed opportunities.
Despite their efforts, the 12-time top-flight champions saw themselves drop to sixth place on the standings with 30 points.
However, they still have a game in hand and are eight points behind league leaders Police and Tusker, who are tied on 38 points after 20 matches.
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After being handed their sixth draw of the season, Ambani explained that his tactical plan did not go as expected in the first half, prompting him to make adjustments in the second half.
โWe got it wrong in the first half because the match did not go as we had planned or anticipated,โ he explained.
โWhen we came back for the second half, I had to make some changes to try to turn the game around. But in the first half, we really struggled.โ
He further elaborated on how their usual method of scoring goals in the first half did not work, creating pressure on players who are accustomed to dominating the opening minutes. He also acknowledged that Sharks were resilient throughout the match.
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โUsually, we dominate the early stages of the game, particularly in the first half. If we go into the break without a goal, it puts pressure on the players as they are not used to that. In addition, Sharks were very solid in the middle of the park and had a strong tactical approach,โ he added.
Ambani, who remains in an interim role, noted that despite the return of key players such as Beja Hassan and Ovella Ochieng, they were not fully fit for the match which affected their performance given the intensity of the encounter.
โI do not think I made any mistakes. Some of the players who had been sidelined with injuries like Ovella came back but he struggled today. If players do not perform at their best, it impacts the team, and heโs still not at full fitness. The intensity of the game also affected him,โ he explained.
Despite the disappointing result, Ambani emphasized that he would continue to work with the players to help them regain their form.
He expressed optimism for their recovery as they now prepare to face Mara Sugar on Saturday, 15th February.
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