AFC Leopards fans stormed the pitch baying for head coach Fred Ambani’s blood after a humbling 4-1 humiliation by Mathare United in a Sportpesa Kenyan Premier League match at the Nyayo Stadium.
The fans could not just stomach the huge defeat which saw them soak in their highest number of goals in a single match in over two seasons and they needed answers more so coming after they had celebrated their side score five past Shabana in their previous match at the same venue.
They knew the loss has hugely dented their quest for a first league title since 1998 when their coach Fred Ambani and his boss and brother Bonface combined in the then hugely talented AFC Leopards squad to win the league. it has been 28 years of waiting- and it seems it will take longer if the Saturday’s performance and result is anything to go by.
Ingwe following had come to the game hoping to see their side reduce the gap between them and leaders Gor Mahia to four points, they had all reasons to be confident, especially after scoring the opener when captain Victor Omune scored fifteen minutes after the interval.
But the Ingwe nation did not expect what was to come after their goal.
Suddenly, their midfield went to sleep and the defence became porous.
The warning signs had been there in the first half when Mathare severally found way past the Ingwe defence who went into the half time break relieved that the offside flag which denied John Makwata a goal meant they would enter the break level with their hosts.
After Omune had tapped in Ronald Sichenje’s cross which sent Ingwe fans into a frenzy, Mathare took charge of the game-poking holes in the Ingwe defence and dictating the midfield.
Ingwe cracked in the 77th minute when Brian Ouru tapped in the equaliser after Leopards keeper James Ssetuba’s failed to deal with a cross from Kinyajui.
That goal rejuvenated the slum boys who six minutes later took the lead once again courtesy of Ouru and in the 89th, Isaac Omweri fired in a rocket that looked to seal the deal for Mathare United.
But Mathare, the 2008 league champions were not done yet. At the stroke of full time Ian Omondi added the fourth for a 4-1 win, a result that even the slum boys did not expect.
The defeat dealt a significant blow to Leopards’ title ambitions while simultaneously handing a major advantage to rivals Gor Mahia, who now have the opportunity to widen the gap at the summit when they take to the pitch on Sunday.
AFC Leopards remain second with 43 points, seven points adrift of Gor Mahia, who sit comfortably at the summit with 50 points.
