An AFC Leopards team that “wasn’t pulling in the same direction” as per former head coach Tomas Trucha definitely did on a frenzy Sunday afternoon as Ingwe put behind their recent dip in form to secure a 1-0 victory over Kenya Police at Dandora Stadium.Billed as a contest that had two new faces on either touchlines leading their teams for the first time this season, it was Fred Ambani who engineered the perfect resuscitation of sorts’ AFC Leopards running away with a desired win that ended their five game winless run.It was also their first win since late September – a 2-1 win over Nairobi City Stars – that explained why the mammoth Leopards fanbase stayed behind to salute and celebrate their team as they walked off the pitch.IT’S FULL IN DANDORA Feeling jolly with 6 million othersAFC Leopards SC 1 Police FC 0⚽️ Owino Kennedy #𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐤𝐚 #𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 | #𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐖𝐄 pic.twitter.com/yG6hjwcA8Z— AFC Leopards SC (@AFCLeopards) December 1, 2024 The defining moment for the patient yet hungry cats came in the 75th minute when Ovella Ochieng’s freekick at the edge of the box hit the woodwork, before Kennedy Owino reacted quickest to tap in the rebound from close-range.Cue delirium, relief, from the fans, bench, and players alike, as what looked poised to be a drab draw, took a new face, that was AFC Leopards in the lead showing no signs of collapse, easing their way to a fourth win of the season.”I had asked all fans to come to this game and witness a win,” a beaming Ambani, who was handed the roles of interim head-coach days after Trucha mutually terminated his contracted last week said post-game. “The players today with their energy showed that they wanted the win and I am so pleased with their overall performance.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8538318##The Leopards of Sunday showed solidity and structure from the first whistle, as they made forays upfront through Samuel Semo and Victor Otieno – that posed a few questions for the Police backline.Skipper Victor Omune should have put Ingwe in the lead after 41 minutes but he glanced his header from a Semo freekick over Job Ochieng’s goal.On the other end, Brian Okoth carved Police’s only decent effort as he headed Kenneth Muguna’s looping freekick wide.Trucha reveals reasons for his departure from AFC LeopardsRandy Bakari’s challenge in the second-half repelled Police’s potential chance at taking the lead, before a double Leopards substitution – that brought on Kelly Madada and Cliff Miheso – opened things upfront.A foul at the edge of the box was all the game and AFC Leopards needed, as Ochieng’s beauty of a freekick left defender Owino with the easy task of passing past Ochieng.The dawn of a new era at Ingwe it was, but not the same at Police, as new coach Etienne Ndayiragije stumbled on his first day of duty, and will now have a huge task of pulling his side from bottom of the league.Shabana’s party ended by ten-man Homeboyz as free-falling Sharks sink deeperOgam can’t stop scoringElsewhere at St. Sebastian Park, Tusker’s newly crowned club player of the month of November Ryan Ogam continued from where he left last Wednesday with a hattrick in his team’s 3-1 win over Murang’a Seal.On form Ryan Ogam wins Tusker’s monthly gong twice in a rowThe new signing gave Tusker the lead in the 32nd minute when he lifted his effort past an onrushing Joseph Okoth in goal, before adding a second two minutes later after controlling a George Kaddu throw-in and volleying his effort to the net.The former Rainbow man was not done when he scored his third in second-half stoppage time, slotting in Fabian Adikiny’s flick into an empty net.⚽️| Click, click, bang!First top flight hatrick for our Rayo.#KenyaMilele #Brewers4Life pic.twitter.com/lh131U0HFi— Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) December 1, 2024 In between his second and third goals was Humphrey Obina’s strike to by then halve Murang’a Seal’s deficit.The three goals pulls Ogam’s tally to 10 in the league this season.Meanwhile at Kinoru Stadium, Mathare United held Ulinzi Stars to a barren draw.
