Why Ingwe coach Aussems was ready to get into goal during league match against Bandari - Capital Sports
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AFC Leopards Coach Patrick Aussems (R) and assistant coach Tom Juma in a past match. PHOTO/RAYMOND MAKHAYA

Kenyan Premier League

Why Ingwe coach Aussems was ready to get into goal during league match against Bandari

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 29 – AFC Leopards head coach Patrick Aussems joked that he was ready to put on the gloves and get into goal had reserve keeper Maxwell Muchesia been injured and unable to continue during their 1-0 win against Bandari in a midweek league tie at Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Muchesia was handed his first start this season between the sticks after first choice custodian Levin Opiyo was ruled out of the match due to an illness.

Aussems admitted he had been praying fervently that the understudy would make it through the tie unscathed because of the lack of options on the bench.

“I was ready to put the gloves on and go into the match (if need be). We only had two goalkeepers and this was quite a big worry for us. Opiyo was not able to start today due to a serious infection so in case anything happened to Maxwell, I would have had to put an outfield player in goal,” Aussems said.

The Dutchman hopes that Opiyo – who has been in imperious form for the felines – will be available to play in their FKF Cup tie against Murang’a Seal over the weekend.

“He has been suffering from an illness throughout the week and was so weak he could not walk properly. Thankfully, he has been under medication and we have three days to monitor him and possibly get him back fit before we resume action…not only for him but also Saad (Musa) who was injured but we are hoping he will also be available,” the gaffer said.

A 67th minute goal by Nigerian Kingsley Ojo Olaniyi earned Ingwe their 12th win of the season in what was a seesaw affair between the two sides.

Olaniyi’s goal came after a period of sustained pressure by Leopards who could have taken the lead a few minutes earlier via Jaffar Owiti whose low shot from the left flank was smothered by Michael Wanyika in the dockers’ goal.

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Muchesia almost had a horror debut in the latter stages of the game when he failed to claim a cross from the right but was lucky enough to see the resultant header miss the gaping goal by inches.

Commenting on the game, Aussems admitted that he had expected at least a draw against a team he touts as one of the toughest in the league.

“To be honest with you, I was thinking before the game that if we got one point then that would have been a good result. But, I also knew that my players were capable of putting up a great performance,” he said.

Fine margins

His opposite in the dugout, Anthony ‘Modo’ Kimani bemoaned the fact that they did not take their chances in what was a game of fine margins.

AFC Leopards Ojo Olaniyi scored the winning goal for Ingwe in the 67th minute. PHOTO/RAYMOND MAKHAYA

“As expected, it was a game of fine margins. I knew we were going to face a formidable team. We knew it was a game where we needed to commit less mistakes because we were bound to be punished because of the quality that AFC Leopards have. They got their moment and capitalized on it,” Kimani said.

Kimani’s next focus is on Sunday’s FKF Cup duel against Mwatate United where he hopes his charges will redeem themselves.

“I know the boys know that the quality they have is not reflected in their current league position. We have the chance to make amends on Sunday in our match against Mwatate and we just want to go back to the drawing board and prepare for it,” the former AFC Leopards fullback said.

In other matches on Wednesday, new signing Patrick Kaddu began his Gor Mahia career on a high with a hattrick in their 5-0 thrashing of Vihiga Bullets at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Patrick Ngunyi scored a last minute equalizer for Kariobangi Sharks as they drew 2-2 against visiting Wazito FC in a lunchtime fixture at Kasarani Annex as Nairobi City Stars humbled Mathare United 3-0 at the same venue.

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Defending champions Tusker FC were 3-1 winners over Bidco FC at the Ruaraka Sports Complex.

Kakamega Homeboyz and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) drew 0-0 as Posta Rangers blanked Talanta FC 2-0.

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