No honeymoon at Leopards for new coach Zapata

Outgoing AFC Leopards coach Dennis Kitambi has introduced a very entertaining playing style that was last exhibited during the days of Luc Eymael.

For the short time he has been in charge after taking over from Robert Matano, fans have been leaving the stadium thoroughly entertained.

More importantly, Kitambi is leaving behind a playing culture which should distinguish AFC Leopards from the rest of the pack including our noisy neighbours, K’Ogalo with their hit and run football.

It’s worth noting that as the management welcomed new coach Rodolfo Zapata of Argentina to the Den two weeks ago, it was made clear to him that he must retain and in fact improve on the current playing style. We wish him well.

But Ingwe has targets for the season, including ending the KPL title drought that has lasted an agonising 20 years.

Zapata, who looks on paper to be the right man to perfectly fit in Kitambi’s style, must also retain the domestic Cup. It would be unacceptable for Leopards to end the season without any silverware. That rarely happens.

Zapata started his duty in Thika against Vihiga United and then in Nakuru against Gor Mahia where Ingwe lost on penalties in the Hull City Challenge after a 0-0 deadlock in regular time.

The result came after the Super Cup defeat and last season’s return leg stalemate.

In his third match at the weekend, Zapata led the boys to a goalless draw against Chemelil Sugar.

However, the fans want this winless streak to end and all these expectations of hundreds of thousands of Ingwe followers will fall on Zapata’s shoulders.

It is encouraging, from an Ingwe point of view obviously, to note that Zapata is one of the most highly regarded coaches in Africa.

Leopards look forward to working with the new tactician who has convinced the management to hire him, backed by his vast experience.

Ingwe struggled badly in the domestic front last season, finishing a distance eighth in the league.

I hope he will have taken notes on our game against Gor Mahia recently.

Ingwe fans are worried following a third defeat to our arch-rivals K’Ogalo on May 1, claiming the long time rivalry is fading.

Former club vice chairman, Vincent Shimoli, who watched the match in Nairobi West with friends, said the defeat - the second in a row - frustrated many passionate followers of the club.

Shimoli was not the only one saddened, but just among many who had a lot of expectations that Ingwe would win, but it was not to be.

Many, who were optimistic of Ingwe ending their losing streak against Gor Mahia thought their team had not planned in the order of their penalty takers in the post-game shoot-out.

Fans of both teams believe that a derby involving the two remains special in Kenyan football. Currently, Gor Mahia and Ingwe rank first and second respectively on average home attendance figures.

In 1980s, Leopards had more fans than Gor Mahia, but because of lean times Ingwe lovers going to the stadium have steadily reduced.

But against this background, it is interesting to note that the days when a match involving the two influenced the destiny of the league title are long gone following K’Ogalo’s dominance in recent years.

What this demonstrates is that the previous high standards set by the two in the 1980s have fallen so low that all that remains of the contest is to determine who bags the bragging rights.