AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani blamed his team’s sluggish start for their lackluster performance in a 0-0 draw against Kariobangi Sharks at Dandora Stadium on Sunday afternoon.Leopards were left frustrated after failing to convert their chances in a match filled with drama both on and off the pitch.The game began with an early scare for Leopards when Kariobangi Sharks nearly took the lead in the second minute, but Francis Siololo’s effort struck the post.##NAJAVA_MECA_8692808##Leopards responded in the 8th minute when Ovella Ochieng’s dangerous cross forced Sharks into a desperate clearance, leading to a corner. However, the sequence saw Lewis Bandi require medical attention before play resumed.Neither side managed to take control of the match, leading to a tightly contested first half. A brief disruption occurred in the 25th minute when fans in the south stand threw objects onto the field, causing a two-minute stoppage before order was restored.Kariobangi Sharks came close again in the 32nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. A delicate touch from Leopards goalkeeper Levis Opiyo was not enough to stop the attack, but Gideon Were made a brilliant goal-line clearance to keep the score level.Ambani admitted his team struggled in the first half and, despite slight improvements in the second period, never fully recovered.“Maybe we didn’t get it right in the first half because things were not working out as we had planned. We adjusted a few things in the second half and improved slightly,” Ambani said.John Kamau on why Mathare United lost to Gor MahiaHe also noted that the pressure to score affected his players’ composure.“Traditionally, we play well in the first half. So when we struggle to score early, it puts the players under pressure,” the former AFC Leopards forward added.The result leaves Leopards in sixth place in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League standings with 30 points, eight behind league leaders Kenya Police.New Gor Mahia coach lists reasons why he was unsatisfied with win over Mathare UnitedIt was their second draw of the year, having previously settled for a 1-1 result against Murang’a Seal.Ambani remains optimistic about future matches, particularly with the return of Ovella Ochieng’, who has been sidelined with an injury. “Our game plan was solid, but one reason we didn’t perform at our best was the return of several players from injury. Ovella, for instance, is just coming back and may not be fully fit. In an intense game like this, it’s difficult for a player who has been out for some time to be at his best,” Ambani explained.
