AFC Leopards were unable to break down Kariobangi Sharks as both teams settled for a goalless draw in their league clash at Dandora Stadium. Despite creating several goal-scoring opportunities, neither side managed to convert their chances, leaving the points shared after an intense encounter.
Following the match, AFC Leopards’ interim coach pinpointed first-half struggles as the main reason his team failed to secure maximum points. He acknowledged that his side was caught off guard early in the game, which forced him to make tactical changes at halftime in an attempt to rectify the situation.
“We got it wrong in the first half because it did not go how we wanted,” he admitted. “We had to make changes in the second half to try and fix the problem, and we got better, but we frankly struggled in the first half.”
The coach further explained that AFC Leopards usually impose themselves early in matches but were unable to do so against a well-organized Kariobangi Sharks side. He noted that the opposition controlled possession effectively, making it difficult for his team to play their usual game.
“We normally win games in the first half most times, but they caught us off guard. They are also a team that are good at retaining possession in the middle half,” he added.
Another factor that affected the team’s performance was the return of forward Ovella Ochieng from injury. The coach acknowledged that the attacker is still working to regain full match fitness and struggled to adapt to the pace of the game.
“I had some players coming from injury, like Ovella, and you could tell he struggled to adapt to the tempo of the game. That is going to happen when you are coming back from a long-term injury,” he explained.
Despite the frustration of failing to claim all three points, there were some positives from the match. One of them was the return of Hassan Beja, who had been sidelined for nearly three months due to injury. The winger was deployed as a right-back and showed his quality by delivering several dangerous crosses that nearly led to a breakthrough goal.
“The type of quality that boy has is going to be vital for us. We want to work on his fitness because he is an asset to the team. He makes our attack more lethal, so to have him back is a bonus,” the coach remarked.
With the draw, AFC Leopards remain in sixth place with 30 points, while Kariobangi Sharks sit in 13th position with 20 points. The team will now shift its focus to their upcoming match against Sofapaka, as they look to return to winning ways and strengthen their position in the league standings.
