Leopards must get out of the comfort zone, says new assistant coach Ambani

AFC Leopards assistant coach Fred Ambani has vowed to help head coach Tom Juma to steer the team to its glory days of the past.

Ambani who helped Ingwe win the league title in 1998 is adamant that the big cats are capable of winning the title again, despite a 25-year wait.

 “It’s true that I played with Tom Juma in 1998, when Leopards last won the league and also I was the top scorer that year - playing for AFC Leopards - and it’s reasonable for us to inject into our current squad the positives of that year and what helped the boys lift the trophy, “ he explained.

“We must get out of our comfort zone and start winning the league titles because the title drought is not a good picture to Leopards and I would love to be part of the success we are hoping for,” said Ambani.

The Leopards legend has also stated that his appointment to be Juma’s understudy was purely on merit thanks to the good work he did while at Wazito FC as the head coach.

“It depends on the hard work one was putting into his team. I think it is when I led Wazito FC against them (AFC Leopards) that they saw what I can do and also the style of play that AFC are playing is the same that I had instilled in my players.

So I think the management came to a decision of appointing me to be the assistant because they know we will combine well with head coach Juma,” the Leopards legend noted.

The change of guard was effected last week with Juma taking over from Patrick Aussems who ditched the club after three years in charge.

“I want to say thank you to the management for believing in me and personally I’m happy to return home to the team I played for and I love,” Ambani concluded.

Leopards finished seventh last season and have failed to win any trophy since 2017 when they beat Kariobangi Sharks 2-0 in the final.