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Ambani got AFC Leopards to return to winning ways in his first match as interim coach following Tomas Trucha's departure.
AFC Leopards ended their five-game winless streak with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kenya Police FC at the Dandora Stadium on Sunday.
Interim coach Fred Ambani, who recently stepped in following Tomas Trucha’s departure, detailed the strategy and motivation he used to inspire his team to regain their confidence.
Kennedy Owino emerged as the match hero, netting a decisive second-half goal that earned Ingwe a vital three points. The victory not only boosted morale but also saw Leopards climb to eighth place on the league table, narrowing the gap to the summit to eight points, with a game in hand.
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Reflecting on the challenges he faced, Ambani acknowledged the difficulty of shifting the team's mindset after a string of poor results.
“It had been difficult because we had gone winless for five games, so it was not easy to get them to believe we would win,” Ambani told Pulse Sports.
Ambani revealed that rebuilding the team’s belief was his top priority, especially as they prepared to face a Kenya Police side equally desperate for a result.
“I had to prepare them mentally to make them believe. We were also facing a Kenya Police side with strong players, but who were bereft of confidence and looking for a result, so it was not going to be easy,” he explained.
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The coach also outlined the tactical changes he implemented, focusing on setpieces to address the team's struggle in front of goal.
“When a team is struggling, it becomes very difficult to find the back of the net from open play, so we have been working on setpieces to create chances,” Ambani said. “If we cannot find the back of the net from open play, we can get them from setpieces, and that is why we had a lot of follow-ups from setpieces, and that is what gave them the goal.”
This strategic adjustment paid dividends, with Owino's goal stemming from a well-executed setpiece.
Ambani emphasised the importance of restoring the players’ confidence, noting that the victory marked a turning point for the team.
“The confidence is back in the players, and the issues are over them, so they know they have to win now,” he stated.
Sunday’s win came just days after a disappointing 1-0 loss to Shabana FC, which marked the end of Trucha’s tenure as head coach. The defeat had seen Leopards plummet from third to tenth in the standings, raising concerns about the team's form.
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