- AFC Leopards chairman sends heartfelt message to Mathare United youngster subbed off after just 17 minutes.
- Douglas Mokaya was introduced in the 63rd minute but was withdrawn in the 81st minute.
- Ambani, who was watching the match, sympathized with the young midfielder.
AFC Leopards chairman Bonface Ambani has shared a heartfelt message to Mathare United midfielder Douglas Mokaya following a difficult afternoon in his side’s clash against former club Shabana FC on Wednesday at Nyayo Stadium.
Mokaya endured a frustrating outing after being substituted just 17 minutes after coming on. The midfielder was introduced in the 63rd minute but was withdrawn in the 81st minute in a match that ended in heartbreak for the Slum Boys who conceded a late goal.
Shabana captain George Onyango rose highest to head home from a corner delivered by Bronson Nsubuga deep into added time, sealing maximum points for the Glamour Boys.
After the match, Mathare United head coach John Kamau explained his decision to substitute Mokaya barely minutes after introducing him.
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AFC Leopards chairman sends heartfelt message to Mathare United youngster
“We gave him simple instructions. He is a good ball player, but every time he received the ball, he lost it which put us under pressure. We wanted to keep possession in the later stages of the game and then try to create chances.
When you come on and can’t keep possession, you have to understand the situation. This was the second leg and there is no next match until next season. He had to step up,” Kamau explained.
Ambani, who was watching the match, sympathized with the young midfielder and urged him to turn the disappointment into motivation. Drawing from his own playing days, the AFC Leopards chairman recalled a similar experience that shaped his career.
“Football makes you strong. I once came on as a substitute in the 86th minute and in the 88th minute I was substituted by Coach Twahir during an Oserian Fastac versus Ulinzi Stars match at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.
I had not even touched the ball. To date, I have never known the reason for being substituted. Only God and the coach know. You just need to be mentally strong. It never killed my morale, in fact, it made me one of the best players at Oserian Fastac,” Ambani said.
He added that he responded by arriving early for the next training session and working even harder to prove himself.
“So my advice to the young Mathare United player who came on and was substituted shortly after is this, stay focused. I watched the match on television and saw the frustration in his eyes as he left the pitch. Focus, and you will be the next hero in the coming matches.
I could have quit football or left the club the next day, but I chose to stay and fight for honours. We have survived many battles under different tacticians. Coaches demand the best from you, but tacticians must also be cautious when handling young players,” he said.
Ambani’s message serves as a timely reminder that setbacks, however painful, can become stepping stones in a player’s journey if handled with resilience and maturity.