AFC Leopards have stepped up their preparations for the 2026/27 season with coach Fred Ambani taking his squad to Tanzania for a demanding series of pre-season friendlies designed to sharpen the team before the new campaign begins.
The 12-time Kenyan champions faced Tanzania Premier League side Pamba Jiji FC in Mwanza on Saturday before heading to CCM Kirumba Stadium today for another test against Kagera Sugar.
“We came to Tanzania because we wanted competitive matches that can challenge the players and give us a clear picture of where we are as a team,” Ambani said.
The trip allows Leopards to move beyond training-ground exercises and expose the squad to the intensity of competitive football, with Ambani expected to rotate his players and assess different combinations.
The coach has been building a team capable of competing consistently at the top end of Kenyan football, with the pre-season period providing valuable time to blend new faces with the squad.
“We are still putting the team together, so these matches are very important. We want the players to understand each other and develop the confidence to play the way we want,” Ambani said.
Pamba Jiji will provide the first examination, with the Tanzanian side offering Leopards a different style of opposition from what they are used to in domestic competition.
Rather than focusing solely on results, Ambani wants his players to demonstrate the tactical discipline and intensity required once the league campaign begins.
“For me, the result is important, but it is not the only thing we are looking at. We want to see our structure, our reaction when we lose the ball and how quickly we can create opportunities,” he said.
The Leopards will then face Kagera Sugar two days later, giving the technical bench another chance to test the squad against top-flight Tanzanian opposition. The quick turnaround should also provide a useful test of the players’ physical condition while allowing Ambani to assess the depth of his squad.
“We have deliberately chosen strong opponents because we don’t want an easy pre-season. The players need to be challenged now so that we know what needs to be corrected before the competitive matches,” Ambani said.
After the Mwanza assignments, Leopards will return to Kenya for another friendly against FKF Premier League rivals Kakamega Homeboyz at Bukhungu Stadium on Wednesday, August 12.
The Kakamega fixture will allow Ambani to test his team against familiar domestic opposition and assess whether the lessons from the Tanzania camp are translating into improved performances.
“Homeboyz will give us a different challenge. They know our football, and we know them, so it will be another good opportunity to test ourselves,” Ambani said.
The coach is also keen to create strong competition for places, with every player expected to fight for a starting position before the season begins.
“We have many players competing for positions, and that is good for the team. Nobody should feel that his place is guaranteed because everybody has to earn the shirt,” he said.
Ambani believes the pre-season schedule will ultimately help Leopards identify their strengths and weaknesses before the pressure of competitive football returns.
“We are not going to pretend that everything is perfect. There are areas where we still need to improve, and these matches will help us identify them early and work on them,” he said.
