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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Of limping Leopards and muted division in the Den

Football

By Gilbert Wandera | Jul 12, 2014

AFC Leopards coach Hendrik Pieter de Jongh during their KPL match against Gor Mahia on 08-06-2014 at Nyayo stadium. [PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO]

It all started with the unceremonious sacking of then goalkeeper trainer Washingtone Muhanji, but the fact that AFC Leopards technical bench might be split down the middle, gives every Ingwe fan reason to worry.

The poor results by GOtv champions AFC Leopards in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) is turning to be more than just a poor show by the players.

Instead, it is turning out that a deep-seated division in the technical bench could be the real reason that the team is not doing well on the pitch.

New head coach Pieter De Jongh is caught in the crossroads, with accusations of high handedness, stalking his short reign in the club.

According to Muhanji, a former international and AFC Leopards goalkeeper, his troubles with De Jongh started when the team travelled to Sudan for last month's Nile Basin tournament.

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What Muhanji does not understand is the fact that the coach, who hadn't known him until then, had a problem with him from the word go and he does not rule out incitement from fellow technical bench members.

"His first problem with me was that I spent too much time with the players such that by the time we played our final match in the Nile Basin tournament, I was not allowed anywhere near the team. When we came back to Nairobi, he told me to my face that I was not needed in the team," said Muhanji.

After Muhanji, the next to go was team manager Richard Madegwa, whose fate was sealed one week ago during a meeting between players and De Jongh.

Madegwa is accused of not seeing eye to eye with most of the players, though he denies these accusations.

"My biggest problem was to try and instill discipline into the players. They used to do things their way, but when I came on board, I initiated disciplinary procedures which they did not like. They ganged up with the coach to suspend me," he said.

But De Jongh, the man at the center of the storm, denies there is any problem on the technical bench. "I am in charge here and if someone does not follow the rules, then they have no business being here," he said.

AFC Leopards Organising Secretary Timothy Lilumbi said they are aware of the goings on in the technical bench and remain concerned.

"We are investigating with a view to resolve this issues once and for all. We are receiving conflicting reports as to the real problems but are working to resolve them," he said.