Trucha has revealed why AFC Leopards will continue to play out from the back despite the tactic leading to Gor Mahia's only goal last Sunday.
AFC Leopards head coach Tomas Trucha has vowed his team will continue playing out from the back despite the tactic leading to a mistake which cost them all the three points during their last match against Gor Mahia.
Leopards have created a reputation for playing swash-buckling football under the Czech tactician since he returned for his second spell at the club, and they have climbed up from the relegation places all the way to eight place, as well as sealed an FKF Cup quarter final ticket against Compel FC this weekend (27th April).
Opiyo's error led to Austin Odhiambo's decisive goal, securing a 1-0 victory for Gor Mahia in the highly anticipated match at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
The goal came after Opiyo was dispossessed while attempting to dribble past two Gor Mahia players, allowing Odhiambo, a former AFC Leopards player, to capitalize and score the winning goal.
This incident adds to Opiyo's previous blunders in the Mashemeji Derby, making the fixture a recurring challenge for the goalkeeper.
However, Trucha has revealed why his charges will continue to play like that, explaining that the red card Gor Mahia’s keeper Kevin Omondi received was as a result of the tactic in itself.
“This part is okay, even the progression phase,” Trucha told members of the Press after the match.
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“How the red card was created was because we invited them to us and then we played behind them.
“They were thinking they would come to us but we were ready for them. They made a mistake which cost them a red card. It is vice versa.
“Sometimes you might think we are wasting time but in real sense, we want to trap them and create space behind them. Of course when they play a man less, you have to find different solutions.
Trucha has however questioned the confidence and mentality levels of his players when dealing with high pressure situations, and has vowed to better this aspect about his management.
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“Decision making, combination of the players, sometimes (they were) nervous, players off the bench, first touch not good and you lose the confidence. We will work on the mentality and confidence of the players in the next match.”
Trucha's unwavering dedication to AFC Leopards' style of play reflects his confidence in the team's ability to compete at a high level.
Despite setbacks, he remains focused on refining their approach and instilling a winning mentality among his players. As AFC Leopards continue their journey under Trucha's guidance, they remain poised to overcome challenges and achieve success on the footballing stage.
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