Story by Fred Maingi
Former Tusker FC striker and former Harambee Stars striker Augustine Etemesi has been drafted in the 26-man AFC leopards squad that will feature in the coming Kenya Premier League (KPL) season.
Other new signings named yesterday by the club after a two weeks intensive trials include former West Kenya Sugar Goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, Hashim Mukhwana (Posta Rangers), Israel Ogude (Red Berets), Nicholas Muyoti, Laurent Tumba, Evans Wandera, Hugo Nzoka (Sofapaka FC) and Silas Aluvisia from Sony Sugar .
Other new signings include Emmanuel Tostao(Mathare Youth), Brian Masiolo(Western Stima), Edward Seda, John Amboko, and Evalistus Shamala .
The club has however released over 15 players to join other clubs. They include Goalkeeper Lawrence Webo, Wellington Murwahi, Franklin Osama, Harry Gentle, Shaban Abdulrahman, Samuel Misse, Umekwe Ekene, and Gregory Nyapala. The fate of James 'Junior Kombo, Paul Ojiambo, Ken Omunyinyi still remains a mystery as club officials declined to state their status.
Players who have been retained include Goalkeeper Barnabas Tiema, Milton Milimo, Martin Imbalambala, Edwin Wafula, and Benard Mangoli. Others are Demonde Selenga, Itubu Imbem and Joseph Okumu respectively.
The club secretariat has announced they are yet to finalise with the release of Evalistus Shamala, John Amboko, Masiolo, Aluvisia and Tostao with their former clubs.
The club recently named a new technical bench led by head coach Robert Bollen from Belgium. Three former officials led by logistics manager Gilbert Selebwa, Deputy coach Daniel”Dino”Kitavi and team manager Tonny Lidonde have been shown the door on mysterious circumstances.
However, suspended secretary General Robert Asembo termed the new developments as null and void as the term of office for those who made the changes had expired last month.He said unless elections are held in a day to be determined by the Milimani Commercial court on Friday afternoon,nobody should issue any directive in the club.
The 26 players named on Monday by the club secretariat comprise of; Goalkeepers-Brian Tiema, Patrick Matasi.
Defenders- Milton Milimo, Martin Imbalambala, Edwin Wafula, Hashim Mukhwana, Douglas Okumu Odhiambo, Edigar Wando, Evalistus Shamala, John Amboko,Israel Ogude
Midfielders- Benard Mangoli, Nicholas Muyoti, Emmanuel Tostao, Abraham Cokie, Edward Seda, Laurent Tumba,Evans Wandera,Augustine Etemesi.
Strikers- Hugo Nzoka,Paul Odhiambo, Demonde Selenga, Joseph Okumu, Brian Masiolo , Sailus Aluvisia.
Technical Bench members- Robert Matano(Technical Director),Noah Wanyam(Technical Advisor), Robert Bhollen(Head coach), Elliud Omukuywa(Assistant coach), Benard Onyango(Team Manager), Haggai Malenya(Assistant team manager), Patrick Ngusale(Team Doctor).
In other reports
AFC Leopards have appointed a Belgian coach as the executive made an overhaul of the technical bench.
Robert Bhollen has joined the country's former power house from the Nairobi based Jean Marie Julian (JMJ) Sports Academy.
Bhollen will be deputised by Eliud Omukuywa while former Mumias Sugar FC marksman Bernard Onyango has been appointed as the new team manager to be assisted by Haggai Malenya.
Other changes announced by the club acting secretary general Catherine Omanyo indicate that Patrick Madahane Ngusale will be the team doctor.
Robert Matano survived the axe wielded by the Leopards administration on the technical bench to maintain his position of the Technical Director.
Ex international and AFC Leopards ace Noah Wanyama- father to Italy based Serie A side Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga has landed the newly created position of Technical Advisor.
Three senior technical bench members were sent packing as the club executive led by Chairman Julius Ochiel tried to flex their powers.
Those who have been “kicked” out include Gilbert Selebwa who has been the logistics manager,Tony Lidonde (Team Manager) and assistant coach Daniel 'Dino” Kitavi.
Speaking at the teams training ground at Nairobi's Kabete Technical,Ochiel said the changes made are final and binding and called upon the club supporters to rally behind the newly elected technical bench.
However, suspended club secretary general Robert Asembo dismissed the new changes terming them as null and void.He said the new developments are not binding since the term of office for those who made the announcement ended last month.
Asembo said unless elections are conducted, the changes cannot hold water and called upon the Leopards soccer fraternity to ignore.
''By making those announcements, Asembo added,it means elections for the club have lost value and meaning. Those changes are not binding since those who made the announcement on Monday are not supposed to be in office in the first place since elections are yet to be conducted. They are there illegally. What they have done is null and void and I do appeal to club members to ignore them”
Ochiel thanked sponsors Mumias Sugar company for their support adding that they have remained focussed and steadfast in their unwavering support.
The chairman assured club members that the team will win the Kenya Premier League(KPL) title this year and pleaded with club members to support the team and the playing unit. He said the team to feature for the club this season will be named on Tuesday.
According to analyst, the new changes are set to create further split in the team.Over 100 players who are on trials were spotted today at the Kabete Technical ground.
Among those who were seen going through their paces included former Sofapaka striker Hugo Nzoka, Brian Masiolo from Western Stima, Israel Ogude (Red Berets), Laurent Tumba (Sofapaka), Silas Aluvisia (Sony Sugar), John Amboko(Nairobi City Stars), Wycliffe Ogola (Thika Bidco), and Nicholas Muyoti from Sofapaka among others.From the Nation
Former local soccer academy coach Robert Bollen is the new AFC Leopards coach.
Bollen, who worked with Jean Marie and Juliana (JMJ) Academy, will be assisted by Eliud Omukuywa, an uncompromising defender in days at the defunct Kakamega outfit Motcom FC.
Robert Matano retains his post as a team manager, while MacDonald Mariga’s father, Noah Wanyama is the club’s technical advisor.
The Brazil-trained Belgian was on Monday unveiled in absentia, as the new recruits trained under Matano.
“We want to have a formidable side this season. In the end of the transfer window, we want to have a team of 26 senior players and four from the junior team,” said Matano.
Last season, several players from JMJ Academy were been loaned Leopards for one year, making the academy the centre for talent.
Bernard Onyango has replaced Tony Lidonde as the club’s team manager and will be assisted by Haggai Malenya.
AFC Leopards who finished 12th last season, laid off five senior players ahead of the new season.
Among those dropped is veteran goalkeeper Lawrence Webo, Frankline Osama, Gregory Nyapala, William Mafavi and Ken Omunyini.
And from the Leopards office
| Technical Bench | ||||
| 1 | Robert Bollen | Head Coach | ||
| 2 | Eliud Omukuyia | Asssistant Head Coach | ||
| 3 | Patrick Ngusale | Team Doctor | ||
| 4 | Benard Bosco Onyango | Team Manager | ||
| 5 | Haggai Malenya | Assistant Team Manager | ||
| 6 | Robert Matano | Technical Director | ||
| 7 | Noah Wanyama | Technical Advisor | ||
| Players | ||||
| 1 | Barnabas Tiema | Goalkeeper | ||
| 2 | Patrick Musotsi Matasi | Goalkeeper | ||
| 3 | Milton Milimo | Defender | ||
| 4 | Martin Imbalabala | Defender | ||
| 5 | Edwin Simiyu Wafula | Defender | ||
| 6 | Hashim Mukhwana Malema | Defender | ||
| 7 | Douglas Okumu Odhiambo | Defender | ||
| 8 | Edigar Wachiya Waudo | Defender | ||
| 9 | Evalistus John Shamala | Defender | ||
| 10 | John Amboko | Defender | ||
| 11 | Israel Gideon Ogude | Defender | ||
| 12 | Benard Mangoli Wanyama | Midfielder | ||
| 13 | Nicholas Muyoti Ndubi | Midfielder | ||
| 14 | Emmanuel Tostao | Midfielder | ||
| 15 | Abraham Cokie | Midfielder | ||
| 16 | Edward Seda | Midfielder | ||
| 17 | Laurent Tumba | Midfielder | ||
| 18 | Evans Wandera | Midfielder | ||
| 19 | Augustine Etemesi | Midfielder | ||
| 20 | Hugo Nzioka | Striker | ||
| 21 | Paul Odhiambo | Striker | ||
| 22 | Selenga Mutitya | Striker | ||
| 23 | Itubu Imbem | Striker | ||
| 24 | Joseph Okumu | Striker | ||
| 25 | Brian Masiolo | Striker | ||
| 26 | Sailas Aluvisia | Striker | ||
|
Note | ||||
| The club is yet to finalise with the releases of the following players: | ||||
| 1 | Evalistus John Shamala | |||
| 2 | John Amboko | |||
| 3 | Brian Masiolo | |||
| 4 | Sailas Aluvisia | |||
| 5 | Emmanuel Tostao | |||
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