Opiyo backs rejuvenated Ingwe to deliver league title

AFC Leopards first choice goalkeeper Levis Opiyo has confidently backed his side to be among the teams that will be fighting for the title come the end of the 2022/2023 Football Kenya Federation Premier League campaign.

This is after the Patrick Aussems currently coached side started churning consistent results recently in a run that has seen them jump up to fifth place on the log table after an impressive seven match unbeaten streak that included five wins and two draws with their last defeat coming over a month ago in a 1-0 loss against Wazito.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, the experienced custodian revealed that the team, who last won a league title in 1998, still have a chance to push for the diadem especially in the second leg which will be the most crucial for teams.

“What I know is that the race will be a marathon because we still have the second leg to come. In the Kenyan Premier League, history has it that the winner does not win the title with such a big gap. Last season, the league was won on goal difference.

We are definitely going to fight and it is not going to be a coincidence if we finished in the top two or go all the way in lifting the league title,” the player who has had stints at Western Stima, Nairobi City Stars, Gor Mahia and Wazito said.

The goalkeeper also noted that the team has what it takes to put up a fight as they have come of age after a very difficult campaign last season where they had to cope following the mass exit of over ten of their experienced players.

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“I know we can do it because I think right now we have a squad that is no longer young. Last year we got a very rough time after the mass exodus by the experienced players. But after that, we had to remind them that they are no longer young anymore being that they are playing for a big club in the country and the continent.

The attitude levels have also really gone up and that is why we are enjoying the form we are in,” the keeper added.

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Currently, Leopards sit in fifth place on 25 points after fifteen games played which is only eight points behind current table toppers Gor Mahia who have played one less game.

The team face Kariobangi Sharks in their Round 16 clash set to be staged at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.