Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called on AFC Leopards to rise to the challenge and bring the club back to its former glory. Speaking at the AFC Leopards gala, held at the Maa Hotel and sponsored by the U45 Unit branch, Mudavadi encouraged the players to elevate their game and return the club to its winning ways.
As a devoted supporter of Ingwe, Mudavadi stressed the importance of ending the long title drought and recapturing the Kenya Premier League (KPL) championship from arch-rivals Gor Mahia, a title AFC Leopards last claimed in 1998.
Mudavadi also committed to attending more matches in the upcoming season and urged the club’s 83 branches to follow the example set by the U45 Unit Branch in their dedication to supporting the team.
At the gala, Victor Omuno was recognized as the Best Player of the 2023-2024 season, taking home a reward of Sh75,000 for his outstanding contributions. The central midfielder had a stellar season, emerging as the club’s top scorer with eight goals and providing 15 assists in the league. His exceptional performance also earned him the Player of the Year title, along with an additional Sh75,000 prize.
Kayci Odhiambo, another key player, was honored as the Fans’ Player of the 2023-2024 season, receiving Sh85,000. Odhiambo had an impressive season, which included making his international debut for the Harambee Stars.
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Despite a challenging start to the season that saw AFC Leopards struggling in 17th place, the team mounted a strong comeback, finishing fifth in the league and reaching the semifinals of the FKF Cup competition.
Club captain Clifton Miheso expressed gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support throughout the season, even though the team did not secure any titles. “We are very grateful to the fans for standing by us throughout the season. Despite not winning any silverware, we had moments that prepared us well for the upcoming season,” Miheso said.
Club Chairman Dan Shikanda urged the players and coaching staff to strive for trophies in the new season, acknowledging that the issues faced in the previous campaign had been addressed. “We encountered many challenges early in the season, but the fans remained loyal, and the players responded. It’s only fitting that we organize such an event to celebrate everyone who makes this club special,” Shikanda remarked.
Olympia Musonye, chairman of the U45 Unit branch and a key figure in organizing the event, reiterated the branch’s commitment to transforming the club through resource mobilization and expanding its support beyond the Luhya community. “We are committed to ensuring our members attend every match and help increase Ingwe’s popularity,” Musonye added.
AFC Leopards coach Tomas Trucha commended the U45 Unit Branch for recognizing the club’s top performers and encouraged other branches to do the same. “It’s inspiring to see a branch like U45 honoring the club’s best players. This is something I’ve only seen in Europe. We promise to repay your support with trophies,” Trucha said.
During the event, AFC Leopards also introduced their new signings for the 2024/2025 season, including South Sudan captain Peter Manyang, forward Sydney Lokale, wing-back Julius Masaba, and Samuel Semo.
AFC Leopards are set to kick off the 2024/2025 season with a match against newly promoted Mathare United on Saturday, marking the start of their Kenya Premier League campaign.
