Wounded Leopards Sharpen Claws For Trophy Hunt Next Season

NAIROBI, Kenya- After an underwhelming 2018 season, wounded local giants AFC Leopards SC have sharpened their claws with the intent of winning silverware next term.

Leopards finished the 2018 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) season in seventh place with 51 points, 24 behind eternal rivals and champions Gor Mahia FC as their cup defence came up short in the semi finals of the SportPesa Shield. 

Speaking to SportPesa News, Ingwe stars underlined their intent to challenge for local honours with ending the bitter 21-year league title drought highest on the agenda.

“We have to win the league this season. We have what it takes and we owe it to our fans,” defender Robinson Kamura said with the club last lifting the league trophy in 1998. 

“Our new coach has brought a sense of belief in the team and I believe we can prove that we are capable,” he charged. 

Nikola Kavazovic, 43, succeeded Argentine Rodolfo Zapata in the latest head coach musical chairs at The Den and the former Township Rollers FC boss has quickly impressed his new charges.

“The coach is a professional, that’s the first thing I think of when I see how he handles players,” star midfielder Whyvonne Isuza offered. 

“Since he came, we haven’t repeated any drills in training and we have acquired a better understanding of each other,” teammate Victor Majid added. 

Isuza was the club’s top scorer with 13 goals last term, including a wonderfully executed bicycle-kick goal against Gor at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on August 25 in their 1-2 Mashemeji Derby defeat. 

The shining light of a disappointing season for Ingwe called for managerial stability in the team that has hired 25 head coaches since they were promoted back to the top flight in 2009.

Stable manager

“The new season will be tough but we can manage, with a stable manager now and we hope that remains the case, we will put up a fight,” Isuza stressed. 

“It was great to be the top scorer last season but it will feel even better if we can get some silverware. 

“Training has been going well and I will do my best to maintain my good form for the team,” he added. 

Leopards begin the new SPL season with an enticing fixture against Kariobangi Sharks FC- the team that succeeded them as Shield winners- on the opening weekend. 

Both teams finished the 2018 season level on points but William Muluya’s side claimed sixth due to a better goal difference. 

“The Sharks game will be interesting. They are playing in the CAF Confederations Cup and they’ll play twice before facing us. 

“We can use that to our advantage and beat them to start on a winning note,” Ghanaian attacking midfielder Isaac Oduro stated. 

Both sides will also feature in the 2019 SportPesa Cup in Tanzania with the eight-team knockout tournament running from January 22-27 where the race to dethrone two-time winner Gor will heat up.  

“Tournaments like the Super Cup help development of football and the experience it gives is priceless,” Kamura offered. 

“We’ve been unlucky on penalties in the tournament but this time we are going for it, just enough practice and we can win it,” teammate Majid underscored. 

The winner of the tournament where Leopards were outclassed by Gor 0-3 in the final of the inaugural edition in 2017 will get the chance of playing English Premier League side Everton FC.

“Getting a chance to play Everton is huge. We saw Gor do it and we want to have the same experience,” Isuza charged.