Newly elected AFC Leopards Secretary General Gilbert Andugu has urged club leadership and supporters to work together towards retaining Ingwee’s lost glory.
Leopards last won a Kenyan Premier League title in 1998, allowing arch rivals Gor Mahia and Tusker dominate Kenyan football for two decades.
Andugu won the seat with 432 votes ahead of Robert Situma (224) and Tony Omusina (49) in an election held on June 26 during the side’s Annual General Meeting at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.
“My hearty appreciation to my campaign team for the great team work, sleepless nights and never ending support you gave to ensure that we emerged victorious in the polls,” Andugu said on Tuesday.
“I believe that our great Club, AFC Leopards won on this day. Your vote was a vote for the future. A bright future. Your overwhelming support will come in handy as I take over this new responsibility.”
AFC Leopards finished 6th in the 2022/23 Football Kenya Federation Premier League season after starting the campaign poorly with reliable players ditching the former champions due to financial constraints that were hampering operations at the club.
Andugu believes AFC Leopards can retain their glorious status provided there is teamwork and cohesion at the den.
“Special thanks to my competitors Robert Situma and Tonny Omusina for the allowing democracy to carry the day. You have shown the true spirit of being an Ingwe fan as well as trusting in our Club structures.Let us join hands, work together and ensure that AFC Leopards regains its lost glory.
“I give thanks to the independent election organizers Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) for conducting a fair and credible election allowing for the Club’s ethos to be felt across Kenya and the world at large.
“I also congratulate Dr. Dan Shikanda and Oliver Napali for being elected to the national executive council (NEC) as Chairperson and treasurer respectively. Our combined efforts is what will make us achieve the success and trophy-laden term for the fans.
“To the fans and members; your support will be required as usual on and off the pitch. The task ahead will be determined by our unity. Let’s stand together and restore our lost glory.”
Following the Sunday’s exercise held at Kasarani on Sunday June 26, 2022, the following officials were elected to the national executive council (NEC) to steer the Club for the next three years.
Football Kenya Federation Premier League side AFC Leopards will hold their club elections during the side’s Annual General Meeting scheduled for Sunday, June 26 at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.
Voting process shall commence at 8: 00am and close at 1:00pm whereby eligible voters handing in their identification documents to the election’s official at 1:00pm shall be considered to the last person to cast their vote before voting is closed.
The presiding officer however, has the liberty to extend the voting period for not more than 1 hour or call the voting to a close before the above stipulated time for a good course to be recorded.
Voters are encouraged to carry their original National Identification Cards and/or valid passport. A voter shall present their national identity card or a valid passport to an elections official before being allowed to vote.
According to the club’s update on the exercise, only accredited agents and observers will be allowed within the polling centres.
Electoral Code of Conduct
Candidates are encouraged to adhere to the AFC Leopards Code of Conduct.
Voters and supporters are discouraged from wearing their candidates branded merchandise i.e (Caps and T-Shirts with aspirants’ names/photos) to the polling area.
Supporters are discouraged from playing music/isikuti near the polling area.
AFC Leopards finished 6th in the 2021/2022 Football Kenya Federation Premier League season after starting the campaign poorly.
The side has signed a KES60 million-shilling sponsorship deal with Kenya’s betting company Spotika for the 2022/23 campaign.
Aspirants will be battling for the positions of Chairman, General Secretary and Treasurer.
Much of the attention will be in the club chairmanship election where current office holder Dan Shikanda will be out to guard his seat against Ronald Mukoya Namai.
Kenya’s most successful football clubs, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards are not yet out of the woods as the sponsorship curse haunts them again.
What could be likened to bad omen, both K’Ogalo and Ingwee have for long been bedevilled by financial constraints occasioned by a number of factors scaring away sponsors and partners from pumping money into their coffers.
There are grave financial and misconduct factors that are constantly chasing away interested sponsors willing to uplift the status of the game;
Economic Downfall
Sponsors are shelving their ambitions of partnering with financially-stricken football clubs in Kenya due to the current economic crisis in the country.
Gaming firm Betsafe has bolted out of an initial three-year sponsorship deal signed between them, Gor and Leopards in 2020.
Betsafe are the current shirt sponsors of both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.
In the agreement, Gor Mahia reportedly received Ksh50 million while AFC Leopards pocketed Ksh40 million two years ago as the first batch of payments for the season of their partnership was disbursed.
In the second year, K’Ogalo bagged Ksh30 million while their eternal nemesis Leopards picked Ksh20 million. This is after the betting company slashed the sponsorship package due to the Covid-19 pandemic that had reduced revenue flow.
Betsafe has been shirt sponsors of the two clubs and are prematurely cutting links with the two outfits with a year left on their contract.
Heavy Taxation
In 2019, the government cancelled operational licences for 27 betting companies for failure to comply with the Kenya Revenue Authority regulations.
By that time, giant betting firm SportPesa was the main Kenyan Premier League sponsor as well as both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards shirt partner with a multi-million shilling deal sealed.
Sportpesa would later close shop in the Kenyan market after the taxman came after them.
“We regrettably wish to announce that due to the uncertainty of this situation [cancellation of the licence] SportPesa will be cancelling sports sponsorships effective immediately. All clubs and partners will have received notices as provided for in their contracts,” Sportpesa said in a statement seen by Sports Africa.
“This despite the existence of a court order prohibiting the regulator from taking such actions. We greatly value our partnerships and we will endeavour to resume support to the best of our ability when the business recovers,” the statement added.
Sportpesa used to be shirt sponsors of both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards
In 2018, Sportpesa had given the Football Kenya Federation a total of Shs69 million, with Kenya Premier League (KPL) receiving Shs259 million.
On the other hand, record KPL champions Gor Mahia received Shs198 million while the 1998 KPL winners AFC Leopards took home Shs159 million.
The lucrative deal was later terminated even after Sportpesa came back into operation in the market shortly after tax compliance.
Sanctions and Bans
Sponsors prefer investing in an orderly place to safeguard their investment. However, such is not the case in Kenyan football.
In February, World football governing body, FIFA asked the Kenyan government to repeal the decision to disband Football Kenya Federation and put in place a caretaker committee over FKF’s alleged funds embezzlement claims or the country risks an imminent ban
“Repeal of the Cabinet Secretary’s decision of 11 November 2021 appointing the caretaker committee in lieu of the elected FKF Executive Committee,”Fifa asked the government in a letter to the disbanded federation’s secretary-general Barry Otieno.
FIFA further added it would only lift the suspension upon the “receipt of confirmation from the FKF and its management, led by Vice-President Doris Petra and General Secretary Barry Otieno that the FKF and its premises are once more under their full and unconditional control.”
This development came shortly after Fifa President Gianni Infantino announced Kenya’s indefinite suspension from all football activities during the Fifa Council Press Conference.
“Without prejudice to any investigations by national authorities or other judicial bodies, the Fifa Council also decided to suspend the Football Kenya Federation and the Zimbabwe Football Association with immediate effect due to undue interference by a third party,” Infantino said.
Rioting and Hooliganism
AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia supporters have for ages been associated with hooliganism and protesting against perceived poor officiating in KPL matches.
On February 13, a league match pitting Vihiga Bullets and Gor Mahia was abandoned after K’Ogalo fans started rioting over alleged bias in officiating at Kasarani main stadium.
The fixture had only been played for the first 45 minutes before Bullets refused to get back to the pitch for the second half fearing for their safety.
Gor Mahia bore the brunt and forfeited the three points and a two-match fan ban against Police FC and Wazito FC.
A rioting Gor Mahia fan being restrained by a steward earlier in a league match pitting Gor Mahia and Vihiga Bullets
“After the review of match official reports of the 2021-22 FKF Premier League match 180 between Gor Mahia and Vihiga Bullets which was abandoned at half time on Sunday February 13, 2022 at MISC Kasarani, Gor Mahia forfeits the match in accordance with rule 3-5-6 of the rules and regulations governing Kenyan Football (2019) which states: A club will forfeit any match which was abandoned because of misconduct of their supporters or members,” said the letter signed by Head of FKF Secretariat Linda Oguttu to Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier.
“Gor Mahia forfeits the match on 2-0 basis per rule 3-3-3. Gor Mahia is therefore given two match empty stadium ban and therefore, should play next two home league matches behind closed doors.”
No serious sponsor could wish to associate themselves with clubs dealing with consequences occasioned by misconduct of their supporters.
Meanwhile, it is back to the drawing board for the ountry’s football industry, not only the two leading clubs, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.
Record Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia rallied from behind to beat arch rivals AFC Leopards 6-5 in post-match penalties to win the Madaraka Day Exhibition Cup at the Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday.
AFC Leopards were trying to break their 6-year winless jinx against the Andreas Spier’s charges and things looked to be going their way when Collins Shivachi headed in the Washington Munene’s corner kick in 36th minute.
Ingwe took control of the entire first stanza with several attempts to double their lead but Gor Mahia’s defense was equal to the task until it ended 1-0 in favour of Leopards to the first half whistle.
In the second stanza, Gor Mahia came back guns blazing seeking to restore parity. Their relentless effort bore fruits in the 68th minute when Leopards’ old boy Austine Odhiambo capitalised on a lose ball to level matters for K’Ogalo, a blunder committed by AFC Leopards goalkeeper Levis Opiyo who was dispossessed in the box.
Both sides were cautiously trying not concede deep into the second half as it ended 1-1 in regular time.
It was straight to the penalties with Gor Mahia converting all their six spot kicks while AFC Leopards’ Peter Thiong’o fired his shot over the bar to let the Green Army win the tie to the excitement of their loyal supporters.
The former FKF Premier League winners took home a sum of Ksh 1m as prize money plus a trophy.
AFC Leopards penalty scorers: Tedian Esilaba, Washington Munene, Victor Omune, Josephat Lopaga, John Mark Makwatta
Gor Mahia penalty scorers: Philemon Otieno, Samuel Onyango, Dennis Ng’ang’a, John Macharia, Austine Odhiambo
Gor Mahia Starting XI
Gad Mathew, Paul Ochuoga, Philemon Otieno, Dennis Ng’ang’a, Geoffrey Ochieng, Ernest Wendo, Peter Lwasa, Austine Odhiambo, Sammy Onyango, George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo, Sammy Omalla.
AFC Leopards Starting XI
Levis Opiyo, Peter Thiong’o, Washington Munene, Tedian Esilaba, Collins Shivachi, Lewis Bandi, Brian Wanyama, Cliff Nyakeya, Ojo Olaniyi, Victor Omune, Eugene Mukangula.
AFC Leopards boss Patrick Aussems has hailed his young side for showing consistency after edging Talanta FC 3-2 in an FKF Premier League duel witnessed at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday.
The Belgian tactician has been behind the noticeable eye-catching football displayed at the den lately. He has instilled confidence and composure to the young Leopards squad with decent results consequently.
AFC Leopards head coach Patrick Aussems (Left) in a previous league match. Photo/Courtesy
Aussems has built a strong unit from scratch at the 1998 Kenyan Premier League champions after a mass exodus of players witnessed at the club earlier in the current season owing to perceived financial constraints in the country’s top flight league.
With the club banned from making any signings then, the former Simba SC tactician utilised yet to be exposed talent from Ingwe academy to the current fruits the side is reaping.
Leopards boast of the season’s longest unbeaten run stretching to 11 matches. Ingwe have collected maximum points twice in their last three league outings and sharing spoils once.
They drew 1-1 with their eternal rivals Gor Mahia earlier in the month, won walkover points after Kariobangi Sharks failed to show up for a scheduled Premier League fixture before outsmarting newbies Talanta FC on Saturday.
Commenting on Saturday’s results, head coach Patrick Aussems was full of praise to the lads for taking in instructions earnestly and showing improvement consistently.
“We won 3-2 but we put ourselves in trouble ! Fortunately we didn’t give up and we kept believing on it. We showed character ! It’s also a way to win matches ! Those boys learn and progress weeks after weeks. Congrats boys! I will keep eyes on them,” he said.
Tipped for relegation in the early stages of the culminating campaign, Leopards have emerged above the odds to tenth position on the 18-team table with 42 points in 29 matches.
FKF Premier League Saturday Results
AFC Leopards 3-2 Talanta FC
Gor Mahia 1-1 Kakamega Homeboyz
Bidco United 0-1 Police FC
Mathare United vs Wazito Fc (Cancelled)
KCB 3- 2 City Stars
Posta Rangers 1-1 Sofapaka
AFC Leopards managed to hold all-time Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia to a 1-1 draw in a fierce 94th edition of Mashemeji Derby staged at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani Stadium on Sunday.
It was the Leopards who took the lead on the 28th minute mark as Victor Omune capitalised on Gor Mahia’s mix-up in the defense to send the Ingwe fans in the stands wild.
Both sides had their fair chances in the first stanza but Gor Mahia could not restore parity in the opening 45 minutes with Leopards holding on to their early lead into the break.
Action between AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani on Sunday
Gor Mahia came back in the second half guns blazing and made their intentions clear as forward Benson Omalla levelled the scores for home side in the 51st minute after a miscommunication in AFC Leopards defense.
Going forward, it was anyone’s game with both ends squandering their open chances while trying to seal victory.
However, Gor Mahia still took the bragging rights after stretching their unbeaten run in the Mashemeji Derby to six years.
AFC Leopards last beat Gor Mahia in the particular nerve-cracking fixture in 2016 with Lamine Diallo scoring the only goal for the Leopards at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.
The stalemate pushed Gor Mahia to fourth position in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League standings with 47 points in 28 outings as AFC Leopards moved to nineth place with 39 points in 28 matches.
A section of AFC Leopards fans at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani on Sunday
Elsewhere, Vihiga Bullets came from behind twice, staging a memorable comeback to shock home side Kariobangi Sharks 4-3 at the Kasarani Annex on Sunday.
Patilah Omoto, Erick Mmata and Steve Otieno scored the goals for Sharks while Vincent Ogola grabbed a brace for the visitors with Robert Arrot and Philip Muchuma sealing the win for the visitors who moved four point away from the drop zone.
Second placed and defending champions Tusker FC moved closer to retaining their title after beating log leaders Kakamega Homeboyz 2-0 at Ruaraka, reducing the gap between them and the Homeboyz to one point.
Struggling FKF Premier League giants AFC Leopards have organized a fans’ funds drive to help bridge the 2021/2022 season budget deficit.
The event will take place on Wednesday, May 4at the United Kenya Club starting 5pm with supporters urged to turn up in their multitudes for the fundraiser.
The Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) general secretary Francis Atwoli will be the event’s chief guest.
AFC Leopards is among a host of local clubs badly hit by a financial crisis hampering operations in the country’s football owing to various factors.
According to Mathare United chairman Bob Munroe, Football Kenya Federation takes blame for the cash crunch in local football.
Mathare United’s financial situation has worsened to the extent of failing to honour two league matches on the trot, one against Bandari and Ulinzi Stars, risking an imminent relegation from the FKF Premier League at the foot of the table.
“Our financial situation is the result of an escalating series of external factors over the last few years which kept reducing the revenue and/or raising the costs for all our top clubs,” Munroe reacted to Mathare United’s financial predicaments.
“Those cumulative and financially destabilising external factors included: – the FKF forced expansion of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) in February 2017.
“The related SuperSport termination of their KPL contract in March 2017, the necessary but difficult Covid-19 suspension of the league for five months in 2020, and the FKF hostile takeover of the Kenyan Premier League in September 2020.
Munroe also argues that late funds disbursement to competing clubs is also a contributing factor to the current bad state of football in the country.
“The FKF failure to pay to clubs a fair share of the KPL broadcast/title rights revenue – the FKF mismanagement of Fifa, government of Kenya and sponsorships funds during 2018-21.
“The increasingly negative publicity about FKF also discouraged many companies. The Fifa ban then made the already difficult financial situation of clubs even worse.
“To have financially stable and competitive clubs and top league, a rigorous rethinking, restructuring and commercially-minded reorientation of FKF and Kenyan football is clearly needed.” Monroe explained.
Meanwhile, AFC Leopards have been relying on financial bailouts from their political friends, loyal supporters and able partners to carry on with daily activities at the den.
Defending champions Tusker FC ended AFC Leopards 11 game unbeaten run with a narrow 2-1 victory in a league match played at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani on Sunday.
Deogratious Ojok came off the bench to score the winning goal at the death, as Leopards looked keen to further extent their fine form to 12 matches.
AFC Leopards’ Nigerian striker Ojo Olaniyi had also come off the bench to score the equalizer in the 83rd minute to cancel out Lawrence Luvanda’s 13th minute goal.
Tusker fought to the tail end of the fixture and Ojok grabbed all three points with virtually the last kick of the game. Sakari brilliantly won the ball on the right before slicing a cross into the box. Ojok perfectly timed his run to beat the offside trap and slot the ball home.
Saturday Results
Nairobi City Stars 0-2 Sofapaka
Kariobangi Sharks 3-2 Posta Rangers
KCB 0-1 Gor Mahia
Mathare 0-2 Bandari
Sunday Results
AFC Leopards 1-2 Tusker
Nzoia Sugar 1-1 Ulinzi FC
Police 2-2 Kakamega Homeboyz
Vihiga Bullets 2-2 Bidco United
Mathare United chairman Bob Munroe has pointed an accusing finger at the Football Kenya Federation for ‘killing’ community football clubs and the Kenyan Premier League.
The 2008 KPL champions are bedevilled by financial constraints with FKF under the chairmanship of the ousted Nick Mwendwa being blamed.
Placed bottom of the table with 11 points in 26 outings, Mathare are risking relegation from the FKF Premier League.
The Nairobi-based club is not in a financial position to host Bandari FC for matchday 27 on Sunday.
Bob Munroe has taken the blame directly to former FKF boss Nick Mwendwa for taking decisions that have plunged Mathare United and community clubs into financial disarray.
“Today [Saturday] is a sad day in the 35-year history of the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) and Mathare United FC (MUFC),” Munro’s letter seen by Sports Africa read.
“It’s an especially sad and even painful day for me and the MUFC staff, coaches, players, and their families as well as for the tens of thousands of youth in the Mathare and neighbouring slums who dream of helping themselves and their families escape poverty by someday playing for Mathare United.
“Our financial situation is the result of an escalating series of external factors over the last few years which kept reducing the revenue and/or raising the costs for all our top clubs.
“Those cumulative and financially destabilising external factors included: – the FKF forced expansion of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) in February 2017.
“The related SuperSport termination of their KPL contract in March 2017, the necessary but difficult Covid-19 suspension of the league for five months in 2020, and the FKF hostile takeover of the Kenyan Premier League in September 2020.
“The FKF failure to pay to clubs a fair share of the KPL broadcast/title rights revenue – the FKF mismanagement of Fifa, government of Kenya and sponsorships funds during 2018-21.”
The Slum Boys’ situation is a clear reflection of what many football outfits are grappling with in recent years under the administration of Nick Mwendwa.
All time league champions Gor Mahia alongside their eternal rivals AFC Leopards are not also in stable financial conditions to run their operations smoothly.
“Sadly, our team is financially unable to host and honour a match for the first time since we started playing in the FKF leagues 28 years ago,” the chair’s statement added.
“Coincidentally, we’re scheduled to play Bandari whose head coach, Anthony Kimani, is a MYSA/MUFC legend who captained our 2008 Kenyan Premier League Championship team, whose goalkeeper coach, Wilson Oburu, is a former MYSA/MUFC goalkeeper, and whose lineup includes previous MYSA/MUFC stars such as defender Andrew Juma, midfielders Whyvonne Isuza and Kevin Kimani, and striker Chris Ochieng.
“The increasingly negative publicity about FKF also discouraged many companies. The Fifa ban then made the already difficult financial situation of clubs even worse.
“Today, our team is only one among nearly half of our top clubs, especially our community-based clubs, which are now struggling with serious financial problems.
“To have financially stable and competitive clubs and top league, a rigorous rethinking, restructuring and commercially-minded reorientation of FKF and Kenyan football is clearly needed.” Monroe explained.
Meanwhile, the game of football in Kenya is in a crisis with the current Fifa ban worsening the situation.
For promising midfielder Daniel Musamali, playing for the 1998 Kenyan Premier League champions AFC Leopards is a dream come true.
Born and raised in an environment where football is like a religion, Dante, as he is fondly known by his peers, realized his soccer gift when in Class Five in 2012 at Nzoia Industrial Primary School where he made a brave move and joined Nzoia Sportiff Football Club to sharpen his skills.
Sportiff is a grassroots football unit rooted deep in Bungoma County that acts as one of the feeder clubs for premier league side Nzoia Sugar FC.
After completing his primary school education in 2015, the prodigy later joined St Mary’s High School Kibabii in 2016 before leaving the institution in mid-2017 to join Rift Valley football secondary school football powerhouse St Anthony’s Kitale.
From there, Musamali was scouted by AFC Leopards under the tutelage of the then head coach Anthony (Modo) Kimani.
Musamali would later be loaned to Nzoia Sugar FC in the 2020/2021 season before Ingwe called him back to the Den to man the Patrick Aussems’ depleted midfield this season.
The soft spoken lad was on the score sheet on Sunday, December 19, as Leopards played to a 1-1 all draw with FC Talanta at the Nyayo National Stadium in a hotly contested FKF Premier League tie.
Commenting on the feeling on donning the the famous beautiful blue and white Leopards’ jersey , Musamali did not hide his joy, terming it as a dream come true to represent Ingwe in the country’s top flight football league.
“It has always been my dream to play at this level for such like a club,” Musamali shared. “Even though I’m not yet get where I want to be, it is a huge privilege to play for AFC Leopards. I now want to win trophies with this club. ”
AFC Leopards is grappling with grave setbacks owing to financial instability, a major factor that led to players’ mass exodus last season.
The club’s management was forced to turn their attention to the junior side and assembled a rather young team that head coach Aussems is burning the midnight oil to groom.
Ingwe is struggling to gain a firm grip in the league that has already gained momentum, placed 15th on the log with nine points in 10 outings, Musamali is still optimistic that much is still left to fight for in the campaign.
“It is still early, matches have not gone too far. We will be somewhere if we win our next seven fixtures, then push hard in the return leg,” said Musamali.
Commenting on Aussems’ coaching philosophy, Musamali revealed that he is enjoying life under the guidance of the Belgian tactician. ” He is a nice coach, very positive. ”
The 13-time champions are looking to build the team around a crop of young talents comprising Musamali, speedy winger Peter Thiong’o and captain Marvin Nabwire to help the club restore their lost glory
