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AFC Leopards want to embark on an ambitious journey to find solutions to what has been ailing the success-starved club since its inception 60 years ago.
AFC Leopards are exploring ways in which the club can start challenging on the continental front as well as having their own home after admitting they have slept for too long.
Leopards began their 12-day 60th anniversary celebrations on Tuesday and even as they did that, a realisation that they have been left behind by their African peers crept in, leading to a moment of reflection among the club’s leadership, fans and other stakeholders.
“We have had several phases where after the great run in the 80s and 90s, the club went down a bit, we were relegated at some point, then after, the club came back to the national league which was our third phase,” Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda said after a visit to Shauri Moyo, where the club’s founder Israel Motoka lived.
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08:00 - 12.03.2024
FOOTBALL Ingwe at 60: AFC Leopards begin elaborate 12-day anniversary celebrations
AFC Leopards supporters are filled with excitement as the club begins commemorating 60 years since its inception with an elaborate 12-day ceremony.
“We want to move to the next level, after the first great phase, the second phase where we went down, the third phase of coming back. Now we are looking at a scenario whereby the club has won the league 13 times and we have not featured in Africa.”
Shikanda feels Leopards should be a force in Africa just like Egyptian giants Zamalek and Al Ahly as well as their Tanzanian counterparts Yanga and Simba, who were founded at around the same time, but are currently miles way.
“The theme of Leopards at 60 is to make sure all of us reflect as key stakeholders from fans, members, players, officials everybody. So that we ask ourselves, what is it that is ailing us, we cannot have our own training ground, win an African title,” added Shikanda.
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11:00 - 12.03.2024
FOOTBALL Why talismanic midfielder Charles Ouma ditched Harambee Stars for South Sudan
Ouma, an AFC Leopards academy graduate, was part of the Harambee Stars squad four the Mauritius Four Nations tournament in June, but has declared for South Sudan, who even called him up.
“We were ahead of the Zamaleks, Al Ahlys, Yanga, Simba but all of a sudden, they seem to be miles away. So, at 60, it is a time for reflection.
“If Josephat Murila and his group could win the East and Central Africa Cup, why couldn’t we build on that and win in Africa. If they won the league, what is it now that the club cannot win the league or be one of the strongest teams in Africa?”
Besides reviving their glory years on the pitch, Ingwe are also keen on ensuring they have a home of their own and also change how the club is run to make it more professional and profitable.
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08:39 - 12.03.2024
FOOTBALL Trucha slams Machakos pitch after AFC Leopards’ unbeaten run comes to brutal halt
AFC Leopards coach has bemoaned the state of the pitch in Machakos for not allowing his side to play their free-flowing game following defeat to Tusker on Sunday.
“We need to put in place structures that will take us to the next level. Should we continue remaining a society model, should we go to the corporate model, should we remain hybrid?” posed Shikanda. “What is it that we really need as a club to move forward.”
“We have put in place some measures. We are trying to chase the land that the late second President [Daniel arap Moi] gave us [in Kasarani]. We want to see if we can get somewhere we can be building and preparing the team which can be a big boost.
“We spend around Ksh12,000 per day just to hire a training field and 60 years down the line, we don’t have our own training field. I do not know whom to blame, we cannot blame individuals but we are celebrating 60 years and these 60 years must give us answers.”
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15:09 - 12.03.2024
FOOTBALL McKinstry confident Gor Mahia will not bottle title advantage in remaining 10 games
Gor Mahia coach Johnathan McKinstry is unfazed by the seven-point lead his team enjoy against both Tusker and Bandari as he feels they have enough to defend their league title.
As part of their celebrations, Leopards also visited children’s homes in Nairobi and will have inter-branch tournaments this week before a friendly match between Ingwe and Spanish fourth-tier side AE Ramassa on March 24.
Founded on March 12, 1964, Leopards are one of the most popular clubs in Kenya and East Africa and boasts 12 league titles, 10 domestic cups, and five CECAFA Club Championships.
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