AFC Leopards boss Tom Juma satisfied with performance despite Gor Mahia defeat in Mashemeji Derby

Photo credit || Chris Omollo

FKFPL AFC Leopards boss Tom Juma satisfied with performance despite Gor Mahia defeat in Mashemeji Derby

Mark Kinyanjui 20:09 - 09.10.2023

Juma is adamant that the team played well but were unlucky not to get a positive result.

AFC Leopards head coach Tom Juma believes his side played well against Gor Mahia despite experiencing the bitter taste of defeat to their sworn rivals during the much anticipated Mashemeji Derby.

Gor Mahia won 2-0 courtesy of a brace by Benson Omala, which keeps the defending champions on the tail of surprise league leaders Posta Rangers after six matches played.

Ingwe however, are lying perilously in the relegation places, collecting just four points from a possible eighteen and winning none of their six games so far.

Juma however is adamant that the team played well but were unlucky not to get a positive result.

“We did not play badly. We played well and we were satisfied with how we played in terms of possession and chance creation,” Juma Said.

The former Kenya international appeared to blame his charges for their profligacy as he said that “you do not need ten chances to score”.

“You do not need ten chances to score, you only need one or two so in terms of chances we did well and in possession we did well. We played well but again we lost.”

Juma has rallied his troops to earn the right to win their remaining games of the season, admitting that the league “is not a walk in the park”.

“That is why we are here. It is our job. Of couse it is not easy. The game against Gor Mahia was not easy. Very good team. They are defending champions. It is not a walk in the park, you cannot just say ‘I am going to win’.

“You have to fight for everything. Sometimes you succeed, sometimes you don’t so I know it is tough especially for our fans at this stage but the only thing we can do is to continue working and try.

“You never know, maybe the next game we will get positive results but it is just to work.”

Ingwe are yet to win a single game this season, drawing four and losing two of their opening six fixtures, and in their last two games before losing to Gor Mahia, they dropped two points from winning positions which counted dear against them.

Against Police, they went ahead twice, but could not hang on to their lead at Kasarani, and both sides had to share the spoils.

Against Shabana at the Ulinzi Sports Complex a week later, it was still the same situation, where Ingwe went ahead, but could not hang on to their lead.

Leopards will be hoping to get back to winning ways against Bandari in Mombasa after the international break.