AFC Leopards coach Fred Ambani has expressed his disappointment following the club’s fourth draw of the season, a frustrating goalless stalemate against Murang’a SEAL at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
Coming off a 2-0 away loss to Mara Sugar, Ingwe failed to secure the crucial three points that would have propelled them to second place on the Sportpesa league 25/26 table.
Ambani was critical of his side’s performance, stating that the team failed to execute their usual style of play.
ALSO READ: AFC Leopards held to a fourth draw of the season against Murang’a Seal
AFC Leopards coach Fred Ambani expresses disappointment after frustrating results
“We didn’t play the type of football we usually do. If you look at all our departments, they didn’t click.
But at least congratulations to our defenders for keeping the clean sheet.”
The coach highlighted a major tactical setback caused by an eleventh-hour injury,
“We struggled a lot upfront and I would say the last-minute injury to Elias Mugane also cost us because we had prepared tactically with him to lead our attack, but we had to makeshift,” he explained.
This forced change saw Samuel Ssenyonjo return to the starting line-up, partnering upfront with wingers Hassan Beja and James Kinyanjui.
At the start of the second half, the former Wazito FC coach did a double substitution with Christopher Koloti and Ronald Sichenje replacing Ssenyonjo and Beja respectively.
The former Kenyan International highlighted the substitutes failure to follow the halftime instructions as the team failed to score for the second consecutive game.
” I think everything didn’t go according to plan because they didn’t follow what we had told them to do and that’s why today it didn’t totally work out,” Ambani admitted, also stressing the team’s failure to maintain possession.
We gave them a lot of time to possess the ball and when you chase it for majority of the time it becomes hard to play.”
Murang’a SEAL Head Coach Osborne Monday rue his team’s missed chances
On his part Murang’a SEAL Head Coach Osborne Monday rued his team’s missed chances, which he believes cost them a win. The draw, however, extends SEAL’s commendable unbeaten run to four matches.
“We are creating a lot of chances, it’s just a matter of being clinical in the eighteen-yard area and scoring.
We are still growing and building and I can tell you it’s coming.”
Ahead of the next match ,Monday noted that the immediate focus for his side is improving ball movement: “We also now need to work on our transitions heading into the next match because that has been our biggest problem.”
SEAL will host Shabana FC in their next fixture at the Sportpesa Arena in Murang’a while Ingwe play at home to Kariobangi Sharks on Sunday,23rd November.
Ingwe will be hoping to pick up form just at the right time ahead of the historic 99th Mashemeji Derby against Gor Mahia on 30th November at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.