Ambani v Mutoka: Who will save limping Leopards?

Westlands MP and diehard AFC Leopards fan Tim Wanyonyi with club patron Alex Muteshi, U-45 Unit Branch chairman Olympia Musonye and candidates during a meeting in Nairobi on Thursday ahead of elections on June 29, 2025. [Courtesy] Stakes are high as a total of 2,706 registered AFC Leopards SC members are expected to cast their votes to elect new officials during tomorrow's Special General Meeting (SGM) at Stadion Hotel Ballroom, Kasarani. The new office will succeed the outgoing administration led by chairman Dan Shikanda, whose two-term tenure ends this month. Former AFC Leopards striker and Kenyan international Bonface Ambani has thrown his hat into the ring for the club's chairmanship, promising to revive the fortunes of the once-mighty Kenyan football giant if elected in the club's elections tomorrow. Ambani, who featured for AFC Leopards in the late 1990s and was part of the historic 1998 squad that last delivered a league title, is hoping to replace Shikanda and steer the sleeping giants back to local and continental glory. Ambani is making a strong case as the man to restore the roar to the den with a plan grounded in experience, passion, and pragmatic reform. "We have reduced this club to the level of a village team. AFC Leopards is not a village team. It is a giant of African football and must return to where it belongs at the top," said Ambani during his manifesto launch in Nairobi on Thursday. The outspoken former Mara Sugar technical director will face off against the club's former commercial director Enos Mutoka, in the highly anticipated exercise tomorrow. He observed that Ingwe's devoted fan base was desperate for a leader who can turn around the club's dwindling fortunes and restore pride to one of Kenya's most decorated football institutions. Ambani's campaign is anchored on a bold and practical blueprint that seeks to address the club's structural, financial, and competitive deficiencies. Top on his agenda is returning the club to continental football, ensuring financial stability, and professionalising player recruitment and welfare. "With the fan base we have, AFC Leopards should never be beggars. My administration will focus on commercializing the club. We'll bring back the women's team, win titles, and invest in solid infrastructure starting with a training ground," Ambani pledged. He emphasised that his leadership style would be collaborative rather than dictatorial, promising to work closely with the Secretary General, Treasurer, and other officials to plug operational gaps and rebuild institutional confidence. "The first thing I will do in office is conduct a full audit of what went wrong, what worked, and where the money has been going. We must run this club with transparency and integrity," he stated. Ambani's transition from Ingwe striker to respected football administrator has been marked by notable achievements. As technical director at Mara Sugar, he guided the club to top-flight promotion. He is currently spearheading the rise of Nakuru Bucks, steering them toward Premier League ambitions. He has also been instrumental in talent development, having coached the AFC Leopards Youth team, where he nurtured top players like Austin Odhiambo and Richard Odada, and helped Kangemi All Stars qualify for FKF Division One. "Anyone who has worked under me knows that I demand excellence. I want to give our players everything they need: welfare, infrastructure, and motivation so that they have no excuse not to fight for titles," said Ambani. "We've been signing players for the sake of it. We must move from quantity to quality. Our signings must be guided by scouting, not panic." On finances, Ambani has identified commercial partnerships and improved merchandising as key revenue avenues that the club has neglected for years. "We need separate sponsors for travel, training kits, merchandise, and medical care. We have the numbers, and that's what sponsors want visibility and return on investment," he said. Ambani, who was blocked from running for the same position in 2019, is now more prepared, experienced, and confident. "If you're joining the leadership to make money, say it on day one. I am here to take a bullet for this team. I want to leave a legacy and build a structure that outlives my term," he affirmed. But for Mutoka, who is also vying for the chairmanship, has tabled an ambitious plan focused on financial stability, professional structures, and infrastructure development. Mutoka, credited with securing the Sh180 million three-year sponsorship deal with Betika, said he wants to build on his success by giving Leopards a firm foundation for the future. "This is not a salaried position, it's a chance to give back to the community. My desire is to return AFC Leopards to winning ways, something I believe is possible with proper financial planning and transparent leadership," said Mutoka. Mutoka, a journalism graduate from the University of Nairobi, listed key priority areas including structured player recruitment, youth development, positive team culture, recognition of outstanding players and staff, and strong community engagement. "When I joined the club, it had no sponsor and was barely surviving. Through my performance-based contract, I helped raise over Sh200 million," he said. "If elected, I want to redirect that same energy into acquiring land, building our own training ground, and laying the foundation for a future stadium. We are spending a lot of money renting pitches that must end." Mutoka was also critical of previous transfer approaches that he says led to the team settling for "fourth-choice" players. "We miss out on top players because of poor financial planning. My plan is to make AFC Leopards attractive again by creating a financially sustainable system that can pay competitively," he said. The Secretary General post has attracted three candidates, namely Irene Sitawa, Isaac Mulindi, and Robert Omusawa. Sitawa, the only lady in the race, has pledged to restore professionalism, transparency, and unity at the club if elected. "The first assignment is to upgrade the communication department by hiring based on merit, not patronage," said Sitawa. "We must run this club professionally. We need a CEO with the right experience and a clear mandate to manage day-to-day operations." Sitawa, with over 15 years of active involvement with AFC Leopards, said her background in strategic partnerships and communication gives her a unique edge. "I've been at Leopards not just as a fan, but as a leader working behind the scenes, solving problems, and raising support," she said. The position of Treasurer has also attracted strong interest, with Patrick Kanyangi, Edward Buhasho, and Newton Luchacha. AFC Leopards patron Alex Muteshi urged members to vote for the visionary leaders. "I urge members to come out in large numbers and vote for the right people who are transparent, accountable, and can ensure the club restores its lost glory. These should be individuals who can put structures and departments in place that can generate revenue and increase connection with the branches and other stakeholders," said Muteshi.

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