AFC Leopards: Old Problems Persist as Ingwe Continue Dropping ‘Silly Points’

AFC Leopards fans have started putting pressure on coach Fred Ambani after just two games but the tactician is being let down by old issues that he must quickly address.

New season, same old AFC Leopards. That is the feeling among Ingwe fans as the air of optimism seems to be disappearing so soon yet the season has just started.

Leopards played their second game of the season against Posta Rangers on Friday but supporters left Dandora Stadium dejected.

This is after Fred Ambani’s team let the lead slip twice to draw 2-2 in a match they should have easily put to bed.

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Leopards broke the deadlock after 23 minutes when youngster Kelly Madada scored a beauty but the lead lasted 10 minutes as Jackson Dwang levelled via header following a poorly-defended freekick by Ingwe.

Ingwe would restore their advantage just after halftime as Sam Ssenyonjo netted following a corner and they appeared to be headed for a win until the 80th minute when another set-piece pegged them back, Eliud Lokuwam this time scoring after a corner that was not well taken care of by Leopards.

Old Habits Die Hard It Seems for Leopards

It was a second successive draw as Leopards had started the season with a 1-1 stalemate against Sofapaka. In the first game, Leopards fought back from a goal down but had conceded from another ball floated into the box.

It appears like Leopards have not shaken off their old habits of conceding from set pieces while they remain guilty of wasting several chances.

Ingwe have been creating chances but do not take them and end up either drawing or losing, a sequence that will make it hard to challenge for the top positions on the table, leave alone a first league title since 1998.

In the two games, Ingwe have looked shaky when defending set pieces while it appears that there is no communication between the goalkeeper and his defenders as that could have easily avoided Posta Rangers’ first goal.

What Else Has Been Ingwe’s Achilles Heel?

The other issue that looks to bedevil Leopards is their inability to hold onto leads, something that was commonplace in previous seasons.

It is not certain whether it is their mentality but it has been frustrating for fans to watch their team go ahead but end up dropping two points or even losing, as witnessed on Friday.

These, added to their lack of clinical edge, has left Ingwe in a spot of bother while increasing pressure on Ambani so soon in the season from the highly demanding fans.

Leopards rank high when it comes to chance creation but their conversion rate is low and just like last season, it is threatening to get them out of the title race so early unless Ambani can quickly find a formula before fans turn on him.