NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 18 – AFC Leopards coach Patrick Aussems insists his team have so far performed much better than the previous season despite losing their last two league matches against Bidco United and Wazito FC.
Ingwe lie tenth on the FKF Premier League standings with 11 points from nine matches, having already lost four and won three.
“Last season, after eight games, we had four points…this season after the same number of matches, we have eight points so it is much better than last season. It is double the amount of points we had last season yet we ended up in fourth at the end. So, to those people talking about our performances, they might want to check it,” the Dutchman said.
The former coach of Tanzanian top side Simba SC, Aussems noted that the main headache he is grappling with right now is the lack of enough firepower upfront.
“When you look at the squad, we don’t have many strikers upfront. When one is out, like today I took Kingsley (Olaniyi) out, it is difficult to find a replacement with the same profile. I only have two unless Maxwell (Mulili) can sometimes come in and fill in there. We hope that we will be able to register the six players we are yet to and maybe that will help but for now, it (lack of enough strikers) is a big issue,” he said.
Aussems was in a bullish mood on Wednesday evening after Ingwe’s entertaining 2-1 win over struggling Mathare United in a league tie at Nyayo Stadium.
Mousa Oundo put the felines into the driving seat in the 59th minute when he latched on to a lobbied pass from his namesake, Mousa Saad, to dink over Brian Opiyo in the opponents’ goal.
Former Mathare United midfielder Cliff Nyakeya added a second, eight minutes later, via sumptuous freekick that left the slum boys’ custodian clutching at thin air.
Mathare leftback Levin Odhiambo pulled one back for the visitors in the 71st minute when his freekick evaded everyone in the box and found its way into the back of the net.
Ingwe fullback Collins Shivachi was given his marching orders in the dying embers of the game for a second bookable offence, leaving his compatriots to face wave after wave of attacks from Mathare.
Slippery slum boys
Commenting on the game, Aussems noted that the tie was always going to be a tricky one considering the 2008 Premier League champions are fighting to haul themselves from their current position in the relegation zone.
“It is never easy when you are playing against a team that is fighting for survival. I told the players that they had to win the next game after losing the previous two. We played well…were dominant in the first half – I think we had like 12 corners. Then in the second half we scored but allowed them back into the game,” he said.
Mathare now lie last on the log with one point from the six games they have played thus far.
Despite their latest setback, coach Bonface Omondi is optimistic the boys will start collectying maxiumum points once they improve on their defensive stoutness.
“Our attack is okay…we are scoring goals but when it comes to the defence, we struggle to contain the pressure. That is what we need to work on and I believe we can improve on it. Today was a huge improvement from our previous matches because the players fought bravely after going down by two goals,” Omondi said.
