AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani was left frustrated on Sunday evening by the poor condition of the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos after his team was held to a 1-1 draw by Shabana at home.
This marked the second time AFC Leopards had hosted a match at the venue following their encounter against Posta Rangers last year.
Prior to that, they had played their other nine home matches at the Dandora Stadium this season since Nyayo Stadium was closed for renovations.
However, this was the first time Ambani managed the team at Kenyatta Stadium and he was clearly displeased with its condition.
He expressed his discontent as he called on the Football Kenya Federation to address the issue.
“The federation needs to take action regarding the state of the pitch. They should seek out better stadiums because this is a major challenge for us.
The coach spends the whole week preparing only to arrive and find the stadium in such poor condition. The federation must address the state of the facilities we have in Kenya so that the game can be played properly,” Ambani vented angrily.
“You can’t do anything at this stadium. You plan well, but when you come here, all your plans fall apart. I’m not going to lie – I’m really disappointed today,” he said.
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In the match, Ingwe struggled during the opening quarter as Shabana dominated. They capitalized on their only real chance with Kevin Omundi putting Ambani’s side under pressure after giving Shabana the lead.
However, following a tactical adjustment, Leopards managed to equalize before halftime. In the second half, they asserted dominance over the match.
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AFC Leopards problems
In addition to the poor pitch conditions, Ambani also pointed out out that his team had been struggling up front, particularly with finishing, which has cost them in recen matches.
“I need to work more on our striking—it’s been a problematic area. We have been creating chances, but no one has been able to convert them. It’s been a major issue for us, partly due to injuries, but I hope things will improve once our players return,” he added during an interview with Azam tv.
Ambani now has almost three weeks to regroup and prepare his squad for the return after the international break.