Deep-Rooted Challenges and Solutions for AFC Leopards
Former Kenyan International, Boniface Ambani, has shed light on various critical issues which he believes are impeding the progress of AFC Leopards in the league.
Currently, AFC Leopards find themselves languishing at 17th place in the league standings, with a victory still eluding them this season.
AFC Leopards Struggle for Leadership
Ambani has pinpointed the absence of robust leadership and a dilution of the club's standards as the central issues plaguing the team. He has identified that these challenges are pervasive, stemming from the top echelons of the club’s management down to the branch levels.
Ambani has underscored the necessity for resolute and unwavering leadership, lamenting the erosion of the club’s once high standards. Ambani has raised alarms over the swift changes in the coaching and playing staff at the club, suggesting that the persistent fines from FIFA are both avoidable and self-inflicted.
"The challenges this club is grappling with are deeply rooted in its management, spanning from the top to the branch levels. To steer this ship, you need to be an unwavering leader. There is no room for compromise when it comes to upholding standards, standards that have unfortunately been eroded at this club. The high turnover of coaches and players is a testament to this, and the fines from FIFA are hindering any progress - and these are issues we have brought upon ourselves," he expressed in his statement on Facebook.
Ambani has also taken issue with the club’s recruitment policy, particularly in terms of foreign player signings, a matter he feels has been swept under the rug even by the club’s legends.
"The club has fallen into a pattern of signing subpar players, a trend that is especially apparent with foreign signings. This is a glaring issue that no one seems willing to address head-on, not even the AFC Leopards Legends. How many players from our club represent the national team? The number speaks for itself," he pointed out.
Furthermore, Ambani has called into question the club’s structural and policy foundations, as well as the fans' unrealistic expectations for perpetual success.
AFC Leopards' Quality and Expectations
He implores fans and stakeholders to understand that victory is a process, requiring not just quality players but also strategic recruitment.
"The club lacks a solid structural and policy foundation, there’s no transparency or accountability. Integrity is paramount, and yet no one seems to be addressing these issues. The fans desire victories, but victories don’t just fall from the sky. They require a meticulous process, quality players, and effective recruitment - areas we are currently lacking in," he added.
Ambani also shed light on the implications of the recent FIFA bans on the team, highlighting how it disrupted their preseason preparations and left them scrambling for replacements.
"Due to the FIFA ban and the exodus of players, the team was left stranded, unable to conduct proper preseason training or sign quality replacements in time. It’s time for us as AFC Leopards fans to introspect and ask ourselves the tough questions before hastily blaming the coaches," he noted.
Sharing his personal journey and engagement with AFC Leopards, Ambani spoke of his unsuccessful attempt to run for the club's chairmanship, blocked by internal and external forces citing his age.
"I’ve been with AFC Leopards since my childhood, first as a fan, then as a player, later as a coach, and even attempted to lead as chairman. However, certain forces in Kenyan football and within the club itself thwarted my efforts, citing my age as a pretext. This resistance also came from the AFC Leopards Legends. Despite my youth, I brought knowledge, international exposure, and a clear vision to fix the club’s longstanding issues. Yet, on the election day, many of my supporters were absent. I even took the matter to court, but the decision went against us. That’s a story for another day," he shared.
"Finally, I call upon the Luhya community to unite. The tribal divisions within the branches are detrimental to our club. Let’s fight against this and unite for a common purpose," he concluded.
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