A.F.C. Leopards

Abaluhya Football Club Leopards Sports Club, officially abbreviated as AFC Leopards, or simply known as AFC, Leopards or Ingwe (Luhya for 'Leopards'), is a Kenyan association 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 second most successful club behind Gor Mahia (18 titles), 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 nameAFC Leopards SC
Nickname(s)Ingwe (The Leopards)
Short nameAFC, Leopards
Founded1964 (1964)
GroundNyayo National Stadium
Nairobi
Capacity30,000
ChairmanDan Shikanda
Head CoachNo Head Coach
LeagueKenya Premier League
2019–2020Kenya Premier League, 6th of 18 (Called off due to COVID)
WebsiteClub website

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 a record 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 the name to Abaluhya Football Club when a number of small clubs amalgamated.[3] In 1980 the club was named AFC Leopards till now.

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

The 1960s: The Good Beginnings

From the 1960s or even earlier; the notion and formation of various Abaluya teams for invitational matches became the forerunner of what eventually would become Abaluhya United. The East African Standard Newspapaer published a report on the birth of a club called 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. This was reported in the newspaper on 12 March 1964, making it our official birthday.[5]

The 1970s and 80s: Legacy Building and Golden Era

This was a period of the club’s sustained performance pushed the Club to more fame and  paved the way for a future glorious era. This included winning the Kenya National Football League in an unbeaten fashion and in the process becoming the first Kenyan club to do so.[6]

Business as usual as Leopards marked the 80s by bring more silverware to the Den marking an unprecedented period of dominance majorly in the domestic and regional scene.[7]

The 1990s and 2000s: Little Success and Decline

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. However, the club’s strong team spirit, the goals of its founders, its relatively stable support base; ensured the club is rejuvenated.[8]

Honours

League Honours

Cup Honours

Performance in CAF competitions

African Cup of Champions Clubs/CAF Champions League

CAF Confederation Cup
  • Preliminary round exits: 2010

CAF Cup

African Cup Winners' Cup

Players

Current squad
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
16 GK  KEN Ezekiel Owade
29 GK  UGA Benjamin Ochan
1 GK  KEN John Oyiemba
– GK  KEN Maxwell Mulili (Loaned Out To Zoo Kericho F.C.)
3 DF  KEN Washington Munene
21 DF  KEN Collins Shichenje
– DF  KEN Omar Somobwana
4 DF  KEN Robinson Kamura (Captain)
– DF  KEN Yusuf Mainge
– DF  KEN Lewis Bandi
22 DF  KEN Collins Shivachi
15 DF  KEN Robert Mudenyu
12 DF  KEN Isaac Kipyegon
– MF  KEN Dan Musamali (Loaned Out To Nzoia Sugar F.C.)
17 MF  RWA Fabrice Kakule Mugheni
6 MF  KEN Said Tsuma
– MF  KEN Sellasie Otieno (On Loan from Liberty Sports Academy)
7 MF  KEN Harrison Mwenda
23 MF  KEN Austin Odhiambo
– MF  GHA Gideon Waja ((***))
5 MF  KEN Marvin Nabwire
19 MF  KEN Eugene Mukangula
14 MF  KEN Peter Thiongo
25 MF  KEN Clyde Senaji
40 MF  SSD Saad Musa
– FW  KEN Dan Sunguti
18 FW  KEN Boniface Mukhekhe
11 FW  KEN Hansel Ochieng
10 FW  KEN Elvis Rupia
27 FW  KEN Jaffery Awiti
– FW  KEN Caleb Olilo
13 FW  BDI Bienvenue Shaka
– FW  CIV Alexander Kouame ((***))

Footballing and Medical Staff
Position Name
Head Coach None
Assistant Coach Anthony Kimani
Goalkeeper Coach Lawrence Webo
Team Manager Tom Juma
Team Doctor Patrick Ngusale
Physiotherapist Bonventure Odire
Fitness Coach Vincent Mbwave

Board of Directors
Position Name
Chairman Dan Shikanda[9]
Secretary General Olyver Sikuku[9]
Treasurer Maurice Chichi[9]

Coaches and Managers

2009-2010

Charles Gyamfi 1988-1991
Jan Koops 2012
Luc Eymael 2013
Hendrik Pieter De Jongh 2014[10]
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
Thomas Trucha 2020

See also

References
  1. "Kenya - List of Champions". rsssf.com. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  2. admin. "The 2000s: Little success and decline". Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  3. Daily Nation, 5 January 2004: Oyugi speaks on state of soccer
  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. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  6. admin (18 March 2019). "The 1970s: Legacy Building". AFC Leopards SC. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  7. admin (18 March 2019). "The 1980s: The Golden Era". AFC Leopards SC. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  8. admin (18 March 2019). "The 1990s: The New Era". AFC Leopards SC. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  9. "Dan Shikanda elected new AFC Leopards Chairman". Michezoafrika.com. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  10. "Troubled Leopards send Dutch coach De Jongh packing". Daily Nation. Retrieved 5 June 2018.

Sources

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