Ingwe have been searching for Patrick Aussems’ successor since the Belgian tactician left two weeks ago and seem to have found their man
AFC Leopards will reveal the identity of their new coach next week following the departure of Belgian tactician Patrick Aussems two weeks ago.
Aussems parted ways with Ingwe after two-and-a-half years at the Den, leaving the club searching for a replacement at a time when they had hoped that he would extend his stay.
While the club has stayed mum over the identity of the coach, Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda says they have already settled on the man who will take charge of the team next season with one month to go before the start of the new campaign.
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Ingwe are understood to have earmarked a number of players from the Bungoma club in the current transfer window.
“We have made progress (in the search for a new coach) and we will communicate next week. We would have done it earlier but the maandamano (protests) has made things a little difficult. We are calling for our fans to be patient,” Shikanda told Pulse Sports.
Leopards are reported to have decided to settle on a local coach with former tactician and captain Anthony ‘Modo’ Kimani believed to be the front runner for the vacant position.
Kimani had two stints in charge of Leopards and left the club in February 2021 to link up with his former boss at Ingwe Andre Casa Mbungo at Bandari. He was later promoted to head coach when the Rwandan was sacked and lead the dockers until May this year when he parted ways with the team.
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The Ingwe boss explained the reasons holding most decisions at the Den in the wake of Patrick Aussems’ departure.
Club legend Tom Juma, who has been serving as Aussems’ assistant, has also been mentioned as a possible candidate with Ingwe keen to hand the reins to a man who understands the club.
Meanwhile, Shikanda has also promised to give an update on the status of the club’s pending payment to Aussems who has an ongoing case with Leopards at FIFA.
Aussems filed the case in 2021 over unpaid dues and was reportedly awarded Ksh18 million, a figure the Leopards’ hierarchy feel is too high.
“It is a matter that we are trying to sort out. We will also communicate its progress on the day we will announce the new coach,” added Shikanda.
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Ingwe are staring at a drastic reduction in their gate collection once they move to the KDF-owned 1,000-seater stadium next season
Leopards are trying to avoid lightning striking twice after being slapped with a two-window transfer ban by FIFA over unpaid dues to former players.
The club had to rely on a number of youngsters last season, ending the season a disappointing seventh, and are hoping to right those wrongs in the transfer market now that they are free to sign new players again.