AFC Leopards will be hoping that their midweek troubles do not affect their morale as they aim for a winning start to 2025 when they face FC Talanta on Saturday. The match, set to take place at Dandora Stadium, provides Leopards with a chance to leapfrog Gor Mahia into fourth place in the FKF Premier League standings.
This will be AFC Leopards’ first match of the year, after a delayed start to 2025 due to some of their players’ involvement in the Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar. However, the atmosphere within the Leopards’ camp has been tense this week, as the players downed tools and boycotted training on Thursday, demanding full payment of their December salaries. Whether this disruption will affect their performance on the pitch remains to be seen, but coach Fred Ambani will be hoping it does not impact the team’s focus.
Before the break, AFC Leopards had been on a solid run, going five matches without losing. They secured three wins and two draws, which leaves them in sixth place with 22 points, just eight points behind leaders Tusker FC. However, they have played two games less than the league leaders, which means they still have a chance to get back into the title race if they win their games in hand. A victory against FC Talanta on Saturday would take them to 25 points, moving them into fourth place and displacing Gor Mahia, who are not playing this weekend.
Coach Ambani has made it clear that his team cannot be ruled out of the title race. The recent victories against Kenya Police, Bandari, and Tusker have bolstered the team’s confidence, and they will be looking to carry that momentum into this match. Fans will be optimistic, especially given that FC Talanta has been struggling this season. The team sits second from the bottom of the table and has lost their last three matches, making them an opponent that AFC Leopards will feel they can easily overcome.
Despite Talanta’s poor form, AFC Leopards will need to be cautious and avoid underestimating their opponents. In football, anything can happen, and Talanta will be looking to turn their fortunes around. However, the Leopards’ recent form and the added motivation of climbing up the table should give them the edge going into this match.
If they can put their off-field issues behind them and perform to their potential, AFC Leopards will have a great opportunity to secure a crucial win and move closer to the top of the table. With the league still wide open and several teams competing for the title, every point counts, and this match could prove to be an important step in their pursuit of glory.
