Leopards have regained their claws, head coach Trucha says as the big cats enjoy fine run

AFC Leopards' head coach, Thomas Trucha, credits his philosophy for the team's recent success in scoring goals and securing victories seamlessly.

This observation follows after Ingwe extended their unbeaten streak to eight across all competitions this year, following a hard-earned 2-0 victory over Nzoia Sugar at Nyayo National Stadium yesterday.

"Tom Juma, my predecessor, lacked the opportunity to fully engage with the players upon his appointment. However, since taking over, I've dedicated time to instilling my philosophy and playing style within the team.

My emphasis has been on the importance of diligent work during training sessions. Now, it's evident that the players are putting in significant effort and actively competing for their spots on the team. This heightened level of commitment and competition is the key reason behind our consecutive wins," Trucha said.

This latest triumph propelled Ingwe to seventh place in the FKF-PL standings with 34 points, 16 points behind the leader, Gor Mahia, after 23 rounds.

Despite the win, Trucha commended Nzoia's robust defensive strategy, which rendered the first half goalless. However, strategic adjustments during halftime turned the game in Ingwe's favour.

"We were aware that it wouldn't be an easy match, and sometimes, being the underdog is preferable to being the favourite. Nzoia employed a defensive strategy, aiming to capitalize on our mistakes through counterattacks by sitting back and waiting for us to slip up.

Although we anticipated their approach, our execution was flawed in the first half with too many shots off-target and misplaced passes. However, we addressed these issues during the halftime break, and our adjustments paid off," Trucha explained.

AFC Leopards have claimed victories against Ulinzi Stars, Muhoroni Youth, City Stars, Kariobangi Sharks, Murangá SEAL, and PAC University (in the FKF Cup), alongside Nzoia Sugar, dropping only two points in a 0-0 draw with Kakamega Homeboyz this year. This marks a significant turnaround from the previous year, which saw the team struggle to secure draws, leading to the dismissal of Tom Juma.

Trucha has reignited the competitive spirit within the Leopards, with the team now eagerly anticipating their upcoming matches, viewing victories as the new standard. AFC Leopards is set to face Tusker in their next match before the international break, riding high on their current form.