Ambani keeps faith as Leopards chase Gor Mahia in title run-in

AFC Leopards defender Vincent Mahiga/HANDOUT

AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani has maintained that the club remains firmly in the Kenyan Premier League title race despite trailing leaders Gor Mahia with five matches left to play.

Leopards currently sit second on the table with 55 points, six behind Gor Mahia, following a 1–0 defeat in the Mashemeji Derby last weekend. “We still have games to play, and if Gor can lose and we win our games, we stand a chance,” Ambani said.

The team’s immediate focus has, however, been disrupted after their scheduled away fixture against Ulinzi Stars FC was postponed. Ulinzi are set to face Tusker FC in a Mozzart Bet Cup quarter-final this weekend, pushing Leopards’ next league match to May 9 against Mara Sugar.

Ambani admitted the change in schedule presents challenges but insisted the team must remain focused. “It’s not ideal when rhythm is broken, but we must stay ready. Sometimes these pauses can help us reset mentally and physically,” he said.

Midfielder Vincent Mahiga echoed the coach’s sentiments, noting the importance of maintaining consistency in the final stretch of the season. “We know what is at stake. Every match now feels like a final for us,” Mahiga said.

Leopards have struggled for form in recent weeks, suffering consecutive defeats to Kenya Police and Gor Mahia, results that have dented their title ambitions.

Despite this, Ambani expressed confidence that the team can recover and remain competitive. “Football is unpredictable. Teams drop points when you least expect them. Our job is to stay in the race,” he added.

Mahiga acknowledged the team’s shortcomings in the derby and said the squad has since reviewed its performance. “We didn’t express ourselves the way we wanted, especially in the derby. But we’ve talked about it as a team,” he said.

Leopards face a demanding run-in, with fixtures against Mara Sugar, Kakamega Homeboyz, APS Bomet, and Bidco United still to come. Ambani stressed that the team’s focus must remain on collecting maximum points from the remaining matches. “We cannot control what Gor Mahia does. What we can control is our performance and our points,” he said.

Mahiga emphasised the need for belief within the squad as they approach the decisive phase of the campaign. “We have to play with confidence. When we trust ourselves, we are a very dangerous team,” he said.

The coach also highlighted the need for improvement in front of goal, noting missed opportunities in recent matches. “We’ve created chances in games but haven’t taken them. That’s something we are working on every day,” Ambani said.

Mahiga said the players are motivated by the opportunity to compete for the title until the end of the season. “This is the moment you dream about as a player — fighting for something big at the end of the season,” he said.

As the campaign enters its final weeks, Ambani called for composure from his players in handling the pressure. “We must stay calm. Pressure can either break you or build you — we choose to let it build us,” he said.

Mahiga reaffirmed the team’s determination to continue pushing until the conclusion of the season. “As long as there is a chance, we will keep fighting. That’s the spirit of this club,” he said. AFC Leopards will now turn their attention to the rescheduled fixture against Mara Sugar as they aim to keep their title hopes alive in the closing stages of the season.