AFC Leopards coach Fred Ambani crowned best for March

Kenyan Premier League outfit AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani and Posta Rangers forward Jackson Macharia have respectively been named the SportPesa League Coach and Player of the Month for March.

Ambani’s leadership inspired a resurgent AFC Leopards side back into the league title conversation and earned him the accolade, his second of the season, while Macharia’s decisive goals single-handedly dragged his team out of an 11-game winless rut.

𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧,

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 , 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐢

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 pic.twitter.com/KzfwNa1dG4

— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) April 9, 2026

March was not a month for the faint-hearted in Ingwe’s camp. A stunning 5-1 thumping of Shabana FC was followed by a shock 4-1 humbling by Mathare United, a result that appeared to put a dagger through their title aspirations and left them ten points adrift of league leaders Gor Mahia.

AFC Leopards focus is to maintain momentum

However, in the weeks that followed, he orchestrated three wins on the bounce to close the gap on sworn rivals Gor Mahia who are suddenly looking nervously over their shoulders.

“March was an important month for us because the team showed character and belief in every match. Our focus now is to maintain this momentum and keep pushing towards our goals,” he told the media after receiving award.

“It’s been a while since our club was in such a strong position around this time of the season. We are taking it a game at a time and hopefully we’ll give our loyal fans something to celebrate at season end,” added the former Kenya international.

The Kes. 75,000 and customized trophy award marks Ambani’s second Coach of the Month honour this season after grabbing the December 2025 gong. He joins Gor Mahia’s Charles Akonnor as a double winner this campaign.

For a second month running, Akonnor finished runner-up after guiding Gor Mahia to a 67% win rate in 3 matches, scoring 6 goals and conceding thrice.

Macharia wins Players’ award

Meanwhile Macharia stopped what would have been an Ingwe clean sweep as he edged Tyson Otieno for the players’ award.

The experienced attacker had an outstanding March run, stroking home 4 goals in 4 matches, the highest in the period, which included the opener in a 1-1 draw against Gor Mahia and a brace that edged Kariobangi Sharks 2-1.

Macharia who pocketed Kes. 50,000 and a customized trophy said the recognition reflects the collective effort of the team and technical bench.

“I’m grateful for this award and thankful to my teammates and coaches who have supported me throughout the season,” said Macharia.

“Football is a team sport and every goal I score comes from the work we do together. I’m motivated to keep working hard and help the team achieve even more in the remaining matches.”

The Player and Coach of the Month awards recognizes monthly exceptional performances and are informed by detailed match data and performance metrics compiled by Tisini, ensuring transparency and objectivity in the selection process.