Problems at AFC Leopards seem to be a never ending cycle as yet again the club is put on the spotlight.
In the wake of alarming headlines concerning the state of football in the country, Ingwe's Head Coach has now broken silence regarding the club's issues.
"The technical bench,the staff and the players are facing many challenges (no salaries,no allowances,daily issues...) which prevent the group from working properly. Carelessness of some people?Lack of professionalism? Hopefully this situation will be fixed as quickly as possible." Said Aussems through a tweet on his social media page.
As per financial statement for the year ended December 2019, AFC was on a deficit of KSh32.5 million. The total income was KSh54 million. This means the member contribution of about KSh2 million is quite small (3% of the income) in the bigger scheme of things. With AFC battling with debts and deficits consistent membership and growth could help them out of their financial problems.
Ingwe has however not lifted the Kenya Premier League title since 1998 and last held a domestic cup trophy in 2016. According to AFC Leopards CEO Victor Bwibo, lack of success on the pitch doesn’t work in the club’s favour especially when recruiting new generation members. “Our core business is football … the success of yester-years, the new generation is not attached to it. So we need to rebuild the level of achievement like before so that we can bring on board new generation members.’’
The situation at the club has led to 14 first team players including striker Elvis Rupia, goalkeepers Benjamin Ochan, John Oyemba, and Ezekiel Owade, plus defender Clyde Senaji, Congolese midfielder Fabrice Mugheni quitting the club in a span of two months.
Early this year, Players from the club revealed how they have had to operate without any money because of the delayed remuneration.
On October 2nd through a well constructed fundraiser, a local ensemble of high profile dignitaries, led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, heeded a rallying call to salvage the 13-time Kenyan champions from the jaws of a huge financial mess that had jolted their smooth operations and threatened their 57-year existence.
The donation made Ingwe Ksh 8 million richer with Assistant coach Tom Juma saying that they would use part of the funds raised to offset the colossal dues owed to their former players so that a transfer ban imposed by world football governing body, Fifa, can be lifted. Weeks later all seems far from settled at the camp.