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The week before, Tomas Trucha had criticised the status of the Thika Municipality stadium, where AFC Leopards overcame their duck over Bidco United
New AFC Leopards star Ovella Ochieng has revealed the concerning reason he was ‘scared’ of making his league debut for the club against Bidco United, a clash they eventually won 1-0 to break their winless run against the Anthony Akhulia-coached side.
Ochieng returned to the club after over a year of being a free agent following his release by South African outfit Richards Bay, and played a role in helping them beat Nairobi City Stars at the Dandora Stadium last Sunday.
However, Ochieng was supposed to make his first appearance the week before for Ingwe against Bidco in Thika, but never featured, with head coach Tomas Trucha berating the status of the stadium afterwards.
The players had to change on the sidelines due to the absence of proper dressing rooms, and there were no convenient toilet facilities, forcing players to relieve themselves near their bus. The condition of the pitch itself was also far below standard, with uneven patches disrupting AFC Leopards’ usual flowing style of play.
Ochieng, who has previously played in Sweden and South Africa where facilities are far superior, echoed these concerns and called on the government to address the poor infrastructure in local stadiums.
“I was a little bit scared of playing in Thika because I was supposed to make my debut there, but maybe the government must do something about the pitches to make everything better,” Ochieng told the media.
Despite these challenges, Ochieng believes some Kenyan stadiums, like Dandora Stadium, Nyayo Stadium, and Kasarani Stadium, are still among the best in the country. However, he pointed out an issue with Dandora’s artificial turf.
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“I think before, it was a little bit better. The pitch (at Dandora) is a bit slippery but better, but I genuinely believe this is the best pitch in Kenya, as well as Kasarani and Nyayo,” he added.
Despite the concerns about the facilities, Ochieng remains focused on his primary objective—helping AFC Leopards end their lengthy title drought. He praised coach Tomas Trucha’s “exciting” project and expressed his belief that the club has what it takes to achieve league success this season.
“Our main goal is to win the league, apart from just having my personal targets. The coach has an exciting project that I am happy to be part of and I am hopeful it will help us break that duck.”
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09:33 - 01.10.2024
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Ochieng also reassured fans of his commitment to delivering on the pitch, as he continues to build fitness and gain more game time.
“The fans have given me a warm welcome, and I feel at home. I know they are expecting a lot from me, and I promise I will deliver. I am starting to get more game time, and once I am fully fit, I know I will do that,” he concluded.
As AFC Leopards aim for league glory, Ochieng’s return and desire to make a positive impact could be key to their campaign, but the improvement of stadium facilities remains an issue that could affect the team’s performances moving forward.
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