AFC Leopards 60: President Ruto urges Ingwe to adopt corporate model

President William Ruto with AFC Leopards officials led by chairman Dan Shikanda, club patron Alexander Muteshi and Ingwe@60 chairman Vincent Shimoli when they paid the President a courtesy call at State House.[PSC]

In a bid to overcome their perennial financial crisis, President William Ruto has challenged AFC Leopards to adopt a corporate model.

Speaking on Wednesday when the team's delegation paid him a courtesy call at State House, Nairobi to brief him on Ingwe@60 celebrations that started on Tuesday, Ruto said the best way for them to restore their lost glory both locally and continentally is by turning the 12-time FKF Premier League champions into a corporate entity.

The President donated Sh10 million shillings towards the two-week long festivities whose culmination will be on March 24 where a selected AFC Leopards team will face fourth-tier side AE Ramassa in an exhibition match at Nyayo Stadium.

"I hosted leaders of the club and officials of select fan chapters at State House, Nairobi, who shared with me the 60th Anniversary celebrations and briefed me on the impressive plans to transform Ingwe into a formidable corporate entity," said Ruto.

"We fully support these progressive plans, and invite other football clubs to follow suit by taking advantage of the transformative agenda my administration is rolling out through our Talanta Hela flagship initiative under the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports."

The President hailed Ingwe for producing some of the best players in the country including Josephat Murila, Mohamud Abbas, Wilberforce Mulamba and JJ Masiga, among other top legends.

The function was graced by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda, club patron Alexander Muteshi, Ingwe@60 chairman Vincent Shimoli and other club officials.