AFC Leopards are sweating over the availability of defender Clyde Senaji as they prepare to host Nzoia Sugar FC at the Ruaraka Stadium on Saturday.
Leopards are with limited defensive options heading into the Nzoia game. Captain Robinson Kamura is serving suspension while Tedium Esilaba is still out after undergoing a knee surgery in March, Former Sony man Robert Mudenyu who was described by former coach Anthony Kimani as ‘Lazy’ hasn’t really done much to get into the first eleven.
Midfielder Collins Shichenje is likely to partner Isaac Kipyegon in a makeshift defence. In what looks like a familiar story, Senaji and Shichenje have expressed interests of leaving the 13-time kenyan champions for greener pastures.
The two have been linked with moves away from the club and have ‘shown little commitment’ to stay at the club according to chairman Dan Shikanda.
Midfielder Collins Shichenje has been heavily linked with a move to Greek top-tier side PAOK FC according to multiple reports in the country while Senaji has failed to report back to the team’s training despite numerous calls by the club management.
The two have been pivotal members of the Ingwe team that is third in the FKF Premier League table heading into matchday 17.
The duo also earned their first call ups to the national team but that might be a thing of the past according to Shikanda.
“Senaji has refused to link up with the rest of the team since the last international break. We have tried our best to have this boys back but bad advisors are the ones making it difficult for us to have them back,” Shikanda told TeamKenya.
“Senaji has not reported for training since the last international break, Collo (Shichenje) on the other hand hasn’t placed much effort in training and it is worrying,”
“We have tried the best to ensure that at least the players are comfortable. We are really struggling financially at the moment and the break has not helped us in any way,” he said.
The failure to secure Kasarani Stadium in time means that Ingwe will have to adopt the Ruaraka Grounds as their home ground for their matchday 17 fixture against Nzoia Sugar.
“The government hasn’t cleared the Kasarani facility for use that means that we have to seek for an alternative,”
“Ruaraka is an unfamiliar place for us but I know the boys are up to task to deliver, we just hope that they continue from where they left last time out,” he concluded.