AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani insists that he is not scared of facing Gor Mahia in the first leg of the Mashemeji Derby.After being postponed twice, the derby will finally be played on Sunday, 30 March 2025, at the Nyayo National Stadium from 4 pm (East African Time).This will be the first time the tactician will be manning the touchline in the biggest club fixture in the country.Ahead of it, he says he is not afraid of facing their rivals and securing favourable results.##NAJAVA_MECA_8805307##“Personally, I am not scared of the derby. I have played it before as a player, and I know the importance and the demands, I cannot say that I am scared of it. My players are equally ready,” said Ambani in an interview with Azam TV.Much as the former Zoo FC coach feels that the derby is just like a normal league fixture, he anticipates it to be a tough one.Why Mariga rarely misses Harambee Stars training sessions and matches“For me, it is just like any other game even though for the fans, it is a little bit different. I understand it is a derby, and it will not be easy. They have a new coach while we have been here for a while. I expect a formidable opposition and will handle them as they come,” he added.Ambani, who was part of the last Leopards’ squad to win the Kenyan Premier League, also spoke of the kind of preparations that he will be making before the game.“The most important thing is to prepare the players, who have never played the derby, to be mentally ready first to handle the crowd and the match. We will prepare physically, mentally, and on all fronts,” he noted.Further, the 48-year-old sent a rallying call to Ingwe faithful to come in large numbers and cheer the team, promising that the team will not disappoint them.“I want to urge the fans to turn up in large numbers. We are the home team and we promise to give them results. The rivalry is there, but we must show that we are the home team,” he remarked.TACTICAL ANALYSIS: 3 ways Kakamega Homeboyz can hurt KCB on SundayLeopards will be keen to emerge victorious in the derby after losing both matches last season.Their last derby win was on 14 May 2023.
