AFC Leopards coach Pitier De Jongh denies forgery claims

AFC leoapards coach Hendrik Pieter de Jongh walks past Gor and AFC players as they pray after their KPL match on 08-06-2014 at Nyayo stadium.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

AFC Leopards coach Pitier De Jongh has vehemently denied reports that he issued a fake UEFA Pro licence to Hungarian club Budapest Honved Academy
In a series of interviews, the coach denied that he even has a UEFA Pro licence. “Ask AFC Leopards, in my job application I never said I have a UEFA Pro licence. I only have a UEFA ‘A’ licence from KNVB which I presented in my application,” he said.
He also denied being sent away by Budapest Honved Academy insisting that in the first instance, the qualifications he was hired with were sufficient but apparently there was a change of heart by the team management regarding the kind of qualifications they needed for the job.
“Whatever information you have is false and malicious. Budapest Honved Academy hired me knowing I had a UEFA ‘A’ coaching licence. After that they was change of policy and they needed something with a Pro Licence and that is the reason i left the club.
“I was not sent away and my qualifications are correct and in order. Anyone who wants to look at them can talk to AFC Leopards. I am a qualified coach and have done a good job in all the clubs I have worked with,” he said.
However, on contacting Leopards deputy Secretary General Professor Asava Kadima, the official said they thoroughly scrutinized the coach before hiring him.
“Performance wise we are Ok. We’ve had a mixture of good and bad results. Our current poor position is not strictly attributed to him. The team had been on a down word trend since the beginning of the season until when he came on board. We are still convinced if he gets more time and support he will deliver. His qualification were sufficient to us. He hold a Diploma 1/UAFA A license that we found suitable to us at the time of recruiting. His experience was also ok with us,” said Kadima.
“We also looked at his cost compared to the other coaches we had talked too and found his fee better and within our budget. We were also aware that he did not have experience in Africa and hence it was going to take him some time to settle. Basically the long contract we have with him was to give him time to stabilise and also create a team for us for the next years. Something that we have not been doing as the club. We have been on a quick win stretch that has not helped us a lot.”