Daily Nation ­ Tuesday
Date: 27.09.2016
Page 48
Article size: 416 cm2
ColumnCM: 92.44
AVE: 199680.0
Once proud Leopards now
tottering into mediocrity
Ingwe change coaches
two times this season
but slump
continues
unabated
BY ISAAC SWILA
[email protected]
Rightfully, AFC Leopards are of the game and chasing after their to team to Chemelil Sugar.
one of the giants of Kenyan
players. Fleet­footed goalkeeper MARTIN MUKANGU I NATION
Lucas Indeche showed them a
football, but in the last 15
AFC Leopards' Simon
years, their story makes for an
clean pair of heels to eventually Abuko in action
agonizing read, at least to their pas­
find refuge in the Western Stima
against Western Stima
sionate fans.
team bus.
But amidst the storm, coach in their SportPesa
Not only have the Big Cats failed
Premier League match
Akwana is calling for fans
to live up to their huge reputation,
patience while cautioning at Nyayo Stadium on
but have also failed to challenge for
players to improve on their Saturday. Leopards
a league title in 18 years. Since they
lost 1­0.
personal lives.
last won the gong in 1998, repeat­
"My business ends with
edly attempts have ended in horrible
the players after a match
misses. In fact, this has become the
My business ends with
and training. So I don't re­
usual script.
the players after a match
ally monitor what they do
And with just five matches to go
and training. So I don't
off the pitch but everyone
and already out of the chase for the
title, Ingwe's camp is in tatters.
This season alone, they have been
managed by three coaches ­ Jan
Koops, Ivan Minnaert and Ezekiel
knows the value of main­
taining high standards of
discipline. The office has
had a talk with them and
implored on them to
improve," Akwana said:
That aside, cases of player indisci­
pline has reared its ugly head at the "Fans have a right to be disappointed
when we lose because it's them who
den with reports emerging of players'
keeps us on our jobs and are the rea­
sexual indiscretions.
And like the proverbial house son why we are with the team."
At the bottom, Nairobi City Stars
built on sand, Leopards are literally
and Sofapaka are fighting hard to
crumbling.
avoid the inevitable relegation axe.
They lost 1­0 to Western Stima,
City registered an unlikely 3­1 win
a team that has beaten them twice over Bandari while Sofapaka sum­
before this season.
moned every skill in their armoury to
Leopards lost to Stima 2­1 in the hold Gor Mahia to a barren draw.
Tusker extended their lead at the
first leg and 3­0 in a GOtv Shield
meltdown.
table to four points after holding on
So aggrieved were Leopards fans for a 2­1 win against Muhoroni Youth
Akwana.
really monitor what they do
off the pitch"
Ezekiel Akwana, AFC Leop­
ards stand­in coach
as their closest rivals Gor Mahia lost
following the weekend defeat that
two points. Ulinzi were the other title
they took matters into their own
contenders to stumble after losing 1­0
hands storming the pitch at the end
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
Daily Nation ­ Tuesday
Date: 27.09.2016
Page 48
Article size: 416 cm2
ColumnCM: 92.44
AVE: 199680.0
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya