AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani and Posta Rangers forward Jackson Macharia have been named the SportPesa League Coach and Player of the Month for March, respectively.
The duo was recognized following a month of standout performances that have significantly shifted the momentum of the current campaign.
Fred Ambani’s leadership has breathed new life into an Ingwe side that many had written off. His tactical acumen helped AFC Leopards claw their way back into the title conversation, earning him his second Coach of the Month accolade this season.
It wasn’t a smooth ride for the Leopards in March. The month began with a dominant 5-1 victory over Shabana FC, only to be followed by a sobering 4-1 defeat at the hands of Mathare United. That loss left them 10 points behind league leaders Gor Mahia and seemed to extinguish their title hopes.
However, Ambani orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, leading the team to three consecutive wins to narrow the gap on their rivals.
“March was an important month for us because the team showed character and belief in every match,” Ambani said upon receiving his trophy and Kes. 75,000 prize. “Our focus now is to maintain this momentum. We are taking it a game at a time and hopefully, we’ll give our fans something to celebrate.”
Ambani joins Gor Mahia’s Charles Akonnor as the only coaches to win the award twice this season.
Macharia: The Goal Machine
Meanwhile, Jackson Macharia prevented a Leopards clean sweep by edging out Tyson Otieno for the Player of the Month award. The experienced attacker was in scintillating form, netting four goals in four matches—the highest tally in the league during the period.
Macharia’s contributions were vital for Posta Rangers, as his goals helped end a grueling 11-game winless streak. His highlights included:
- The opening goal in a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Gor Mahia.
- A decisive brace that secured a 2-1 victory over Kariobangi Sharks.
“I’m grateful for this award,” said Macharia, who took home Kes. 50,000. “Football is a team sport, and every goal I score comes from the work we do together. I’m motivated to keep helping the team achieve more in the remaining matches.”
Recognizing Excellence
The awards, which include customized trophies, are powered by data from Tisini, ensuring a selection process based on objective performance metrics.
Japheth Akhulia, SportPesa’s Head of Partnerships and Sponsorships, praised the rising standards of the league:
“The level of competition in the SportPesa League continues to rise. Celebrating excellence through these monthly awards is an important way of recognizing the progress and quality in our game.”
With the gap at the top narrowing, the battle for the league title and individual honors looks set to go down to the wire.
