Relief for Tomas Trucha as key AFC Leopards match postponed amid national call-ups

©AFC Leopards

Relief for Tomas Trucha as key AFC Leopards match postponed amid national call-ups

Festus Chuma 21:00 - 25.10.2024

AFC Leopards' FKF Premier League clash with Mara Sugar has been postponed offering the team a chance to regroup amid recent challenges.

The FKF Premier League match pitting AFC Leopards against Mara Sugar FC originally slated for Saturday afternoon at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos has been postponed.

The highly anticipated fixture was set to mark AFC Leopards' seventh league game of the season.

However, Leopards have requested a delay due to the call-up of two of their key forwards to the Harambee Stars squad as Kenya prepares for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying rounds.

In an announcement made via the club's official social media pages, AFC Leopards informed fans that a new date for the match would be provided soon.

"Our matchday 7 fixture against Mara Sugar FC, which was to be played this Sunday at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, has been rescheduled to a later date, which will be announced in due course," the statement reads.

This decision was driven by the national call-up of forwards Victor Omune and Sydney Lokale who have joinedHarambee Stars as they prepare to face South Sudan in Juba this weekend.

The postponement comes at a time when the Leopards are under significant pressure to turn around their season.

Ingwe recently endured a 1-0 defeat to Muranga Seal in a mid-week fixture adding to a challenging spell in which they managed only a single point from their last two matches after a 1-1 draw against Kariobangi Sharks.

This run of form has sparked criticism from some fans with increased calls for head coach Tomas Trucha and his technical bench to step down.

"This break couldn’t have come at a better time for us," said a source within the club.

"Our performance has been disappointing, and the fans have voiced their concerns. This gives us some breathing room to re-evaluate our strategy and make adjustments."

AFC Leopards' management appears to be taking this break as an opportunity to focus on internal adjustments, addressing the lackluster performance that has led to mounting pressure on Trucha.

The technical team has also been under the microscope, with club supporters expressing frustration over tactical decisions that have yielded minimal results in recent matches.

Meanwhile, reigning league champions Gor Mahia, whose squad includes four players currently part of the Harambee Stars setup, have not requested any postponement.

Despite the absence of key players Sylvester Owino, Alphone Omija, Geoffrey Ochieng, Roony Onyango, and Austine Odhiambo, Gor Mahia are scheduled to face Nairobi City Stars on Saturday, also at Kenyatta Stadium.

The postponement is seen as a blessing in disguise for Leopards, providing time to rework their game plans and allow the club to regroup before taking on future league challenges.