Ingwe tackle Nzoia in bid to end title drought

AFC Leopards' Yusuf Mainge (left) and Harun Mwale of Ulinzi Stars during FKF match at Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, The Standard]

AFC Leopards assistant coach Tom Juma is hopeful that his side will register positive results when they welcome Nzoia Sugar in today’s (3.15pm) FKF Premier League match at Ruaraka Grounds.

Despite facing fitness challenges following a seven-week break after the league was suspended on March 26 due to Covid-19, the former Kenyan international said they are ready for restart.

“First, we are more than happy that sports is back. Players were hurting and bored with no games to play but I am glad we are past that now,” Juma told The Standard Sports.

“Despite the quick restart with very minimal time to prepare, AFC Leopards is ready to embark on its title quest after previously starting the season well. We now have to continue and finish what we started by bagging a win against Nzoia,” he said.

By the time the local league was suspended in March, Leopards were third on the log with 29 points, seven points behind leaders Tusker. The brewers battle with KCB in an early kick-off match at Ruaraka today.

“We know it is not going to be an easy ride with Nzoia especially after a long period out during the suspension of sports.

AFC Leopards’ Yusuf Mainge (left) and Harun Mwale of Ulinzi Stars during FKF match at Kasarani Stadium in February this year. [Jonah Onyango, The Standard]

“Getting the chemistry and shape of the team back to where it was before the league was disrupted is our main goal,” he said.

Juma will be in-charge of the team as they wait for the return of their Belgian head coach Patrick Aussems, who had travelled back to his home country after the league was suspended.

Ingwe has won nine of their 14 matches played, losing only three and they will be aiming to stamp their authority in the domestic league as they seek to end their two decades title drought.

Elsewhere, relegation-threatened Western Stima will be seeking to bounce back to winning ways and turn around their misfortunes when they take on rejuvenated Posta Rangers in Kisumu.

Stima are second last in the standings with 12 points, five points behind 15th placed Posta.