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A.F.C. Leopards

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Abaluhya Football Club Leopards Sports Club, officially abbreviated as AFC Leopards, is a Kenyan professional football club based in Nairobi. It currently competes in the Kenyan Premier League, the top tier of the Kenyan football league system, and was founded in 1964 by football lovers from the Luhya community. With 12 top-flight league titles to their name, AFC Leopards is Kenya's third most successful club behind Tusker FC (13 titles) and Gor Mahia (18 titles), the latter with whom they regularly contest the Mashemeji Derby.[1] The team currently plays most of its home games at the Nyayo National Stadium

AFC Leopards
Full nameAbaluhya Football Club Leopards Sports Club
Nickname(s)Ingwe (The Leopards)
Short nameAFC
Founded12 March 1964; 60 years ago (1964-03-12)
GroundNyayo National Stadium
Nairobi
Capacity15,000
ChairmanDan Shikanda
Head coachTomáš Trucha
LeagueKenyan Premier League
2023–24KPL, 5th of 18
Websitehttp://www.afcleopards.co.ke/

AFC Leopards' standing as one of the most successful clubs in the region is underlined by the fact that it has won the Kenyan Premier League 12 times. AFC Leopards has also won the Kenya Cup 10 times, and the CECAFA Club Championship 5 times.[2]

The club was formed in 1964 as Abaluhya United Football Club. In 1973 the club changed its name to Abaluhya Football Club when a number of small clubs amalgamated.[3] In 1980 the club was renamed AFC Leopards, the name it holds until present.

In 2008 they played in the Nationwide League and won the title in their zone. They returned to the Kenyan Premier League for the 2009 season in which it also won the KFF Cup.[4]

History

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The 1960s

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From the 1960s or even earlier; the notion and formation of various Abaluhya teams for invitational matches became the forerunner of what eventually would become Abaluhya United. On 12 March 1964, the East African Standard newspaper published a report on the birth of a new club known as Abaluhya Football Club, which resulted from the amalgamation of Marama, Samia United and Bunyore; all Nairobi based clubs that were in Division 1 of the Kenya National Football League. The amalgamation process also included lower division clubs such as Kisa, Tiriki, Bukusu Brotherhood, Busamia, Lurambi, Butsotso, Bushibungo and Eshirotsa thus building its base and establishments that would make it a success in the future. [5]

The 1970s and 80s: Legacy building and golden era

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This was a period of sustained performance from the club, which brought it more fame. This included winning the Kenya National Football League in an unbeaten fashion, in the process becoming the first Kenyan club to do so.[6]

AFC Leopards marked the 80s by marking a period of dominance majorly in the domestic and regional scene.[7]

The 1990s and 2000s

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In the 90s, achievements became less frequent, although in general, the team continued to win some championships thus never suffering a considerable title drought.[8]

The beginning of dismal campaigns for the following 10 years, including relegation from the top tier.[8]

Honours

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League

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Cup

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Performance in CAF competitions

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African Cup of Champions Clubs/CAF Champions League

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CAF Confederation Cup

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  • Preliminary round exits: 2010

CAF Cup

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African Cup Winners' Cup

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Players

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Current squad

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As of 2 November 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 DF   KEN Washington Munene
5 DF   KEN Tedian Esilaba
7 MF   KEN Victor Otieno
8 MF   KEN Brian Wanyama
11 FW   KEN Hansel Ochieng
12 DF   KEN Isaac Kipyegon (Captain)
13 FW   BDI Bienvenue Shaka
14 MF   KEN Peter Thiongo
15 DF   KEN Robert Mudenyu
16 GK   KEN Maxwell Mulili
17 MF   RWA Fabrice Mugheni
18 FW   KEN Boniface Mukhekhe
19 MF   KEN Eugene Mukangula
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 FW   KEN Dan Sunguti
21 DF   KEN Collins Shichenje
22 DF   KEN Collins Shivachi
23 MF   KEN Austin Odhiambo
24 DF   KEN Omar Somobwana
25 DF   KEN Lewis Bandi
25 MF   KEN Clyde Senaji
26 MF   KEN Marvin Nabwire
27 FW   KEN Jaffery Odeny Awiti
40 MF   SSD Saad Musa
77 FW   KEN Caleb Olilo
99 GK   UGA Benjamin Ochan
– FW   KEN Dan Sunguti
– MF   KEN Sellasie Otieno (On loan from Liberty Sports Academy)
– MF   GHA Gideon Waja

Out On Loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
– GK   KEN Maxwell Mulili (at Zoo Kericho)
– MF   KEN Dan Musamali (at Nzoia Sugar)

Footballing and medical staff

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Position Name
Head coach   Tomáš Trucha Assistant coach   Fred Ambani
Goalkeeper coach   Haggai Azande
Team Manager Bernard Mang'oli
Team Doctor   Patrick Ngusale
Physiotherapist   Joshua Osir
Fitness coach   Vincent Mbwabi

Board of directors

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Position Name
Chairman   Dan Shikanda[9]
Secretary General   Gilbert Andugu[9]
Treasurer   Oliver Napali Imbenzi[9]
Committee Member   Diana Obbayi[10]
Committee Member   Caroline Walusaga[10]

Coaches and managers

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  Jonathan Niva 1966-1970
  Jonathan Niva 1973-1977
  Robert Kiberu 1979-1984
  Gerry Saurer 1984-1985
  Graham Williams 1986-1987
  Joe Masiga 1987 (player/manager)
  Charles Gyamfi 1988-1991
  Jan Koops 2012
  Luc Eymael 2013
  Hendrik Pieter De Jongh 2014[11]
  Zdravko Logarušić 2015
  Jan Koops 2016
  Ivan Minnaert 2016
  Stewart Hall 2016-2017
  Dorian Marin 2017
  Robert Matano 2017-2018
  Rodolfo Zapata 2018
  Nikola Kavazović 2018
  Marko Vasiljević 2018-2019
  Andre Cassa Mbungo 2019-2020
  Anthony Kimani 2020
  Tomáš Trucha 2020
  Anthony Kimani† 2020-2021
  Patrick Aussems 2021-2023
  Tomáš Trucha 2023 till present

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kenya - List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  2. ^ admin. "The 2000s: Little success and decline". Archived from the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  3. ^ Daily Nation, 5 January 2004: Oyugi speaks on state of soccer Archived 17 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Kenyafootball, 17 November 2008: AFC Leopards confirmed for 2009 Premier League Archived 16 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ admin (18 March 2019). "The 1960s: The Good Beginnings". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  6. ^ admin (18 March 2019). "The 1970s: Legacy Building". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  7. ^ admin (18 March 2019). "The 1980s: The Golden Era". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  8. ^ a b admin (18 March 2019). "The 1990s: The New Era". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "2022 Annual General Meeting: Club election results". AFC Leopards SC. 27 June 2022. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  10. ^ a b AFC Leopards [@afcleopards] (16 July 2022). "With this development this is how our NEC looks like ..." (Tweet). Retrieved 17 August 2022 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "Troubled Leopards send Dutch coach De Jongh packing". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2018.

Sources

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