AFC Leopards coach Patrick Aussems blasts Thika pitch

© AFC Leopards

FOOTBALL AFC Leopards coach Patrick Aussems blasts Thika pitch

Festus Chuma 12:20 - 27.04.2023

'Ingwe' found the going tough in Thika as the hosts Bidco United seemed to be 'enjoying' the surface.

AFC Leopards coach Patrick Aussmes slammed the Thika Stadium surface after his stuttering side settled for a one all draw with minnows Bidco United on Wednesday afternoon.

The match saw Ingwe frustrated as Bidco went ahead in the 25th-minute courtesy of David Orem, with Maxwell Otieno finding the equalizer at the stroke of halftime as both teams shared spoils.

After the match, Aussems said that he was less happy with the playing surface, making playing good football impossible.

"I was really worried because of the quality of the pitch, and I am happy that at the end of the day, we didn't have any injury," he said.

Aussems was critical of his side's first-half display, which at most of the time was which at times had the Ingwe firmly under the cosh.

"To be honest with you, the first thirty minutes was not good at all, it was just better in the last ten minutes of the half, and the second half was much better," the former Simba Sports Club of Tanzania coach added.

Following the result, Ingwe dropped to the ninth position on the log with 39 points from 27 matches, while Bidco dropped to the 12th on the roster with 28 points.

Leopards will shift focus to the FKF Cup quarterfinal clash as they host Bandari FC, whom they have beaten home and away in the league this season.

Ingwe progressed to the last eight with a nervy 1-0 win over second-tier Murang'a Seal as they stayed on course for silverware in a hugely successful season.

Bandari, on their side, eliminated National Super League side Mwatate United beating them 2-0 in their last 16 meeting in Mombasa.