AFC Leopards made a statement of intent as they hammered Mathare United in their opening match of the season.
AFC Leopards had a perfect start to the season when they beat returning Mathare United 4-0 in an FKF Premier League match at the Dandora Stadium on Sunday.
Leopards took just three minutes to make their presence felt with Arthur Gitego giving them the lead to clam the nerves.
Ingwe extended their lead in the 16th minute when Boniface Munyendo made it 2-0 with a great technique.
The midfielder received the ball from Musa Oundo, looked up and spotted the Mathare goalkeeper off his line, before lobbing it past him.
Mathare then had an opportunity to pull one back via a freekick but Leopards’ goalkeeper Levis Opiyo was equal to the task before he came to his side’s rescue again from the resultant corner.
Ingwe should have gone to the break leading 3-0 when Lewis Bandi made a good run on the right wing before delivering a great ball to Vincent Mahiga, but the latter’s header was cleared.
After the break, Leopards’ coach Tomas Trucha made some changes to freshen up his team with Kayci Odhiambo and Luke Namanda coming in for Munyendo and new skipper Clifton Miheso.
Ingwe held onto their lead until the 17 minutes from time when a dazzling run from Hassan Beja saw him square the ball to Victor Omune and the newly-crowned 2023-24 Player of the Season made no mistakes, scoring the third.
Beja and Gitego then went off for new signings Julius Masaba and Sydney Lokale and the later did not take long to introduce himself to the Leopards supporters, scoring on his on his debut for Leopards’ fourth goal for the empathic win.
