Leaky Leopards worry Kitambi as Homeboyz visit

AFC Leopards interim coach Dennis Kitambi has warned his players it will get harder for them to nick wins if they keep shipping in too many goals.

Leopards, who host Kakamega Homeboyz at the Kenyatta Stadium Machakos on Sunday, have won three matches in a row but have conceded five goals during that run.

Leopards won 2-0 away at Sony Sugar, 4-3 over Mathare United before claiming a 3-2 triumph at Wazito FC leaving Kitambi remarking at how dangerously porous the team’s defense is turning out.

“We have shown that we can score goals, and that’s the basic first step of winning matches. However, there is another important element in winning, avoiding conceding as we are doing.

“On a difficult day you may score only one or two goals, so what happens if you cannot defend well? Sometimes the goals have been quite easy, from mistakes we can easily avoid,” noted the Tanzanian tactician.

Kitambi is firmly in charge of the team after the sacking of head coach Robert Matano, and will be directly responsible of the club’s progress even as the management considers confirming him the head coach.

In the last match against Wazito, Leopards also wasted two spot kicks, further emphasizing Kitambi’s worry of wasted chances.

“When you register a streak of wins and you are among the top teams on the log, you start attracting strong opposition from every team. The attention you create is both positive but can be the undoing for you, especially if you don’t utilise the obvious chances that you get,” Kitambi noted.

Kakamega have struggled in the current campaign, earning only seven points from the possible 18 after six rounds.

A win for the legend

Meanwhile, Ingwe would love tear apart Homeboyz for their legendary Joe Kadenge, who on Friday turned 83.

Leopards official twitter handle wished undisputed best football talent Kenya has ever produced, followed by warm messages from former players and fans.

“Happy 83rd birthday birthday to our legendary striker Joe Kadenge,” Leopards posted.

Former Kenyan international Joe Masiga, who also was a master of the game in his prime playing for Leopards, also posted.

“Happy birthday to the legenadary kenyan international Joe Kadenge.”

The Mistry of Sports, Culture and Arts recognised the ageing Kadenge on their handle too: ” Traditionally Kenyans would listen to Football matches on Radio & former Harambee Stars & @AFCLeopards player ‘Kadenge na Mpira’, would vibrate on our radio sets. Today we celebrate the Legendary  Football Player Kadenge, as he turns 83.”

Kadenge is remembered for among many other achievements, becoming the first player to score three hat-tricks for Leopards in a season, 1967.

A Leopards win will mean equal points with eternal rivals Gor Mahia at the summit of the league, the latter skipping their weekend fixture to honor a CAF Champions League return leg match against Tunisia’s Esperance.

Battle of the red zone

Nzoia Sugar, who are last on the log after losing five matches of the six played, host Zoo Kericho at the Sudi Stadium on Saturday, in what has been labelled a battle of the red zone.

Zoo are 17th with four points, just one above Nzoia, hence the winner of the clash will condemn the other to the rock bottom.

Nzoia and Zoo are in the topflight for the second season since promotion from the National Super League (NSL), but have failed to impress in early stage of the campaign.

“We played well against Gor in our last match though we lost. We will need to build on the good show we had against them but we know Zoo has always been difficult for us. It is like a derby, and knowing they are also trying to forget a poor start, it won’t be easy,” Nzoia’s coach Bernard Mwalala remarked.

In other matches, Mathare will be away to Sony, Bandari FC visit Vihiga United as Thika United host Kariobangi Sharks.

The action continues on Sunday,11-time champions Tusker playing away to Sofapaka, Wazito locking horns with Nakumatt FC as Ulinzi Stars clashing with Posta Rangers.