New Players, New Coach

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).

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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

Ingwe Woes

Update So Far: Leopards is embroiled in a fight for leadership with embattled Chairman having instructed a firm of Advocates, Mukele & Co, to represent the club in a case filed at the Milimani Commercial Courts. This is case number 8094 of 2010 filed in the Chief Magistrates Court. The case was filed by Ochiel against Robert Asembo, the embattled Secretary and ostensibly other parties to stop the elections that had been scheduled for 28th December 2010. (see previous post). The court set the case for hearing on 29th December 2010. The case was adjourned to 5th January 2011. It appears that Asembo raised a preliminary objection against the case arguing that the parties in the suit were wrongly described and the case was a non starter. The preliminary objection was argfued on 5th January and proceeded for hearing on 7th January. The court will deliver the ruling on 14th January 2011.

In the meantime, the protagonists in the case gave an interview to the Nation newspapers as reproduced below.

In Summary

• As other Kenyan Premier League clubs plan for the new season, AFC Leopards is engulfed in leadership wrangles pitting chairman Julius Ochiel against secretary Robert Asembo. The belligerent parties spoke to Monday Sport writer Odindo Ayieko

Monday Sport: What is the fight at AFC Leopards all about?

Julius Ochiel: The fight has been occasioned by the way our suspended secretary, Robert Asembo, mishandled his docket and abused the trust the members bestowed on him by filing a fake constitution single-handedly, a document that did not emanate from the club’s governing council.

We had our Special General Meeting and agreed on a constitution which we presented to the registrar only for Asembo to go behind our backs and present another document ten days later.

It is this that has brought the confusion because he has been pushing for his personal agenda while we are pushing for the betterment of the club.

When and why did you suspend Asembo?

I did not suspend Asembo.

It is the club governing council that summoned him after he presented a fake constitutional document to the registrar without the blessings of the club.

He was summoned and he confessed his wrong doing.

The governing council therefore decided to suspend him because he was working contrary to the direction the club was taking.

You have been accused of being the stumbling block to democracy at the club. What’s your comment on that?

That is their opinion, I have been accused of fearing elections yet I am also on the records suggesting January 9 2011 as the election date until some people went to court.

I just want elections to be held in accordance with the laws of the land and attended by paid up members of the club not street hooligans.

Those accusing me to be undemocratic are the same ones who are bringing problems at the club. Mark you, if the elections which they claim I fear are held today, I will still be elected chairman because of the positives I have brought at the club.

Players, fans and some officials have in the past hit at your style of leadership on the club, what's your take?

Of course in a democratic set up everybody is entitled to his own opinion. I have not been extremely perfect but whenever any issue has been raised, we have addressed it.

Players complained about salaries, last year we did not have money, fans complained about performance, we are now strengthening the team, as for the officials,

I think it is those who refused to adhere to the club’s statutes who have been complaining.

What is the future of AFC Leopards with you as the boss?

The future is very bright. We have just got a Sh15 million sponsorship and it’s a confirmation of the confidence the corporate world have in my leadership at the club.

We have signed new and very good players.

Our mission is to win the Kenyan Premier League this year and reach the finals of the regional championships and the Africa Champions League next year.

We want to bring back the glory of AFC Leopards.

*********

Monday Sport: Do you have any personal differences with Julius Ochiel?

Robert Asembo: I do not have a personal problem with the chairman but I have a problem with the way he has misinterpreted the constitution and has extended his term by another three years without mandate from the club members.

As a result of him imposing himself at the helm of the club for a longer period, the club has performed poorly as evidenced in the second leg of the 2010 Kenyan Premier League season where we started off at position 6 in June and ended up in position 12 in November.

You have been accused of presenting a fake constitution to the Registrar of Societies. Did you?

You need to realise that as the secretary -general I was the one mandated to present the document to the registrar so then issue of me presenting a fake document does not arise.

The constitution that is with the registrar cannot take effect. The fact that it was presented to the club executive and passed does not mean it is already effective. We need to go back to the members, who will vote for it before it becomes law. Ochiel is already using this constitution, which can be challenged anywhere.

Are you suspended as AFC Leopards secretary?

That again is what the chairman would want people to believe. I was elected by members of AFC Leopards and not the executive, who are equally elected; so, if there is anybody to suspend me it is the members. But there has never been a Special General Meeting where I suspended.

It is interesting that almost all the executive officials we were elected with in office are on my side, including the treasurer.

But the Governing Council states you are on suspension.

AFC Leopards has no governing council. What we have is an executive office elected by members early last year.

The so-called governing council is a group of people imposed by the chairman. They have no legal mandate from members to transact anything on behalf of AFC Leopards.

Why are you pushing so hard for elections?

I am not pushing for it alone; all we want is to respect the constitution of the club. Every official was elected under the old constitution, which is still effective.

An AGM will make everything right. It will, first and very important, give members an opportunity to pass or reject the new constitution, which I also feel is a good document. Then, the office will be given fresh mandate.

But we cannot just add ourselves more years in office because we have scribbled a new constitution. We must operate within the framework of the law we were elected with and seek fresh mandate then start operating under the new law.

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Another Football Confusion (AFC)

Well, the Leopards seem to be staring at another confusion as two sets of events seem to be taking place.

On one hand, Secretary General Robert Asembo has called elections for today whilst on the other hand, Club Chairman Julius Ochiel has indicated that Asembo is suspended and he does not have the power to call an election.























Oh dear.

Surely this confusion is not what Leopards needs at the moment. Matters were not helped when the Registrar of Societies issued a letter saying he could not confirm the AGM whilst at the same time addressing it to the Secretary General whom he noted had been seemingly suspended.























The confusion started when Leopards held a Special General Meeting on or about 27th June 2010 where a new constitution was passed. The previous regime of Alex Ole Magelo had come up with the constitution and seemingly, the new office decided to pass it as it was.

The controversial constitution increased the term of office of the office bearers to three years. One of the confusding pints has been when the efective date for this change would have been.

At the time, the Magelo allied afcleopards.net carried the story about the intended meeting.

Following this meeting, it was assumed by some section of fans that the Ochiel team which had taken office in December last year would be in office for one year and after that, the new constitution would kick in. In November this year, calls were made for the club to have fresh elections for Ochiel and his group to seek a further mandate.

Instead, the Ochiel group announced that there will be an Annual General Meeting which will not have full elctions and instead only a few positions will be open. In a notice posted on the Leopards website afcleopards.co.ke it was announced that:-

Notice is hereby given to all bonafide members of registered AFC Leopards branches that the Annual General Meeting of AFC Leopards Sports Club shall be held on Sunday 5th December, 2010 at Nyayo National Stadium Hall at 2.00p.m to transact the following business: 1. To read & confirm minutes of previous Annual General Meeting. 2. To receive, consider and adopt the accounts for the year 2010 by treasurer. 3. To Appoint Auditors for the club. 4. To receive, consider and adopt the Governing Councils report on the implementation of the club’s constitution. 5. To receive, consider and adopt the club’s strategic plan for the years 2011 -2015. 6. To receive, consider and adopt the club’s proposed budget for the year 2011. 7. To elect the vacant positions of (1) Vice Chairman and (2) Organizing Secretary 8. Chairman’s report All four branch officials (Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Organizing Secretary) are entitled to attend to represent their branches.

This led to an uproar with a section of the fans opposed to the Ochiel group indicating that all the positions should be open for elections. It was reported in the East African Standard that:

A group of former AFC Leopards officials are demanding that elections be held for all positions during the club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for early next month. The officials said yesterday it is unfair to restrict the elections to only two positions and want it opened up.

Led by former chairman Alex Ole Magelo, they termed it as unfair and undemocratic a decision by the current officials opening up only the vice-chairman’s post and the Organising Secretary’s position for elections. "This is a plot to lock out all those interested in vying for elective posts and we demand that the decision be rescinded," said Magelo who addressed the media at a Nairobi hotel.

On Wednesday, the club announced it will hold its AGM on December 5 at Nyayo National Stadium during which two positions will be filled.

In June, the club changed the constitution, giving a three-year term for its officials, but the group challenging the decision says this should not be done retrospectively.

"We have no problem with the three-year term, what we are against is the time it is supposed to apply. It appears the current officials want to perpetuate their stay in office by the constitution," "The requirements in the new constitution can only be applied after we hold elections in December," he added.

He also took issue with the performance of the club at the end of this season saying it has not improved at all since they left office a year ago. "The club has had the worst goal difference in the entire league and does not seem to have made any improvement despite the huge resources that the officials received during their tenure,"

"We want them to explain to all Leopards’ members how they have spent this money," added Magelo. The former chairman was accompanied by Duncun Angode and Richard Ekhalie who were all officials of the club last year.

Magelo also claimed that players welfare was ignored by the current officials and this could have contributed to the poor performance in the league. Leopards finished 12th in the just concluded Kenyan Premier League (KPL) after going through many challenges. The club received a major boost three weeks ago when Mumias Sugar Company announced they will sponsor the club next season. With the new controversy over next month’s AGM, it is expected to be a hotly debated contest.

The Ochiel group seemingly saw that with the Mumias Sugar sponsorship that had been announced, they had outdone the Magelo group.

Of course, the Magelo group instead was out to show that they had been the better group.













Magelo and his group through the afcleopards.net website listed their achievements one of which was that they managed to win the FKL Cup. It is however not lost on observers that Leopards only played two matches to win this FKL Cup and received numerous byes. In fact, most Premiership clubs boycotted the tournament.

Back to the elections, the Ochiel group hit back with a letter calling on people not to break the pot.

Our attention has been drawn to Media reports attributed to Mr Magelo and some other members of the former office making some demands towards the forthcoming AGM. We hereby wish to state the following:

1.That the Special General Meeting that was held on the 29th of June 2010 was a properly constituted meeting in line with the then existing club constitution of which you as were all members duly invited but you opted not to attend. The meeting resolved to adopt the new constitution that is now governing the club. Please note that this is the document governing the clubs constitution.

2.We are aware of the scheme to purport the existence of two sets of the clubs new constitution. Please note that this attempt is nothing new. There were changes made to the Kenyan constitution in the run up to this year’s referendum. The genuine document however saw the light of day. We would like to assure you that the genuine constitution that was passed during the SGM is both with the Bona Fide club branches as well as the Government of Kenya and the bodies running football in Kenya. That document is clear that the mandate of the current office will run until June 2013 when the next club elections will be held.

3.The positions being filled are as a result of the current holders of the positions failing to attend any meetings for the past 6 months. The clubs constitution clearly states that any official who fails to attend four consecutive governing council meetings automatically loses his or her position.

4.In our country which has over 10Million voters only 210 Mps represent them at the National Assembly similarly at AFC Leopards which has over 3Million fans but with approximately 1,000 registered and paid up members representation through a clear branch network as adopted under the new club constitution entitles every branch to be represented at the General Assembly (AGM) by their four officials i.e. Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and organizing Secretary.

5.At the AGM of 5th December 2010 will be the first time the club will be unveiling a 3 years strategic plan under the current governing council.

6.The reason for institutions like AFC having AGM’s is to update the constituted forum on such matters as the financial performance of the office. Therefore the matters raised by Mr Magelo regarding accountability and transparency are rather premature. Rather than make seemingly such reckless statements it would be ideal for him and his colleagues to advise their branch officials (if they are members of any branch) who will represent them at the AGM on such issues so they can raise them at the meeting. Interesting these accusation are made by people whose tenure in office was perhaps the most corrupt and suspect of all clubs offices. (Has Mr Magelo’s former treasurer come clean of the allegations that made you suspend him before you left office? Have the owners of Leopards Holdings who operated under the wings of Mr Magelo accounted for the T-Shirts they sold without remitting a cent to the club?)

7.Let the Magelo team not cheat the public that they performed better regarding player’s welfare. At their point of resignation in December 2009, they clearly confirmed their inability to secure the players welfare and also manage club affairs no wander they left behind a debt of 2.4 Million due to players for salaries and allowances. Currently the lowest player earns 15K up from 7K while the highest player earns 40K up from 20K, which regime has performed better. Remember during the 2 years the Magelo Team was in office they never declared publicly any donations received nor did they publish books of account till today. The current governing council as ensured to declare all donations received publicly in the presence of Media as a sign of enhanced transparency. At the AGM of 5th December 2010, income and Expenditure will be declared for the first time in the history of the club.

8.The current office indeed welcomes not only members of the immediate former office but all Ingwe fans to come together and strengthen the club rather than be confrontational and self seeking, now is the time to put all our energies and efforts in rebuilding the team and putting in place the structures that will ensure that the club regains its lost glory. The time for elections will surely come and all will be invited to vie for all positions. However for now there is an office in place and there are plans to ensure that the club starts the next season stronger.

9.Finally, Mumias Sugar has confirmed their support for the club for the next season which comes handy and at the right time. It is due to such programmes that the current office requested for a three year term during the June SGM. It has taken us more than 7 months to get to where we are with the Mumias Sponsorship. Most of their key concerns have been addressed by the changes we made by enacting the new constitution. Should we engage in any negative publicity we stand to lose all that we have achieved to date. Any actions by the sections of the club that create chaos will lead to the contract not being signed. Let us not be too petty and short sighted so as to put the ongoing discussions at risk and break the pot at the door.

Meanwhile, the governing council under my Chairman ship will take full advantage of the end season break to consolidate and enhance the playing unit, reorganize the Technical Bench to guarantee outstanding performance in the next season.

In the cloud of confusion, Asembo crossed over from the Ochiel group to the Magelo group and announced that elections would go on. This is the notice that was issued and slated the elections for December 28.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Ochiel and group had been given a court order barring the elections.

We wait to see what happens. In the meantime, Leopards had toured Tanzania where they were spanked in the three matches.

Read the reports here:

AFC Leopards 0 Yanga 1
AFC Leopards 0 Simba 2
AFC Leopards 0 Azam 3

It is Full Elections

Leopards Results 2010

November 14 Western Stima 1-1 AFC Leopards Bukhungu

7 AFC Leopards 2-4 Tusker Mumias

October 31 AFC Leopards 0-1 Karuturi Sports Mumias

23 Gor Mahia 1-0 AFC Leopards Nyayo

18 AFC Leopards 0-2 Chemelil Sugar Nyayo

September 29 Mathare United 3-3 AFC Leopards Nyayo

18 Red Berets 2-2 AFC Leopards Karuturi

13 AFC Leopards 2-1 Posta Rangers Karuturi

August 28 Nairobi City Stars 0-1 AFC Leopards City

22 AFC Leopards 0-1 SonySugar Nyayo

14 Thika United 0-0 AFC Leopards Thika

5 AFC Leopards 2-4 Sofapaka Nyayo

July 25 KCB 3-4 AFC Leopards City

19 Mahakama 2-1 AFC Leopards City

14 AFC Leopards 0-1 Ulinzi Stars City

June 29 Chemelil Sugar 0-0 AFC Leopards Chemelil

26 AFC Leopards 1-0 Gor Mahia Nyayo

16 Posta Rangers 1-1 AFC Leopards City

9 AFC Leopards 2-1 Red Berets Nyayo

1 Karuturi Sports 3-0 AFC Leopards Sher

April 28 AFC Leopards 2-1 Mahakama Nyayo

18 AFC Leopards 1-1 Nairobi City Stars City

11 SonySugar 2-0 AFC Leopards Awendo

7 AFC Leopards 1-1 Mathare United Nyayo

March 28 Ulinzi Stars 2-0 AFC Leopards Afraha

How To Hire A Coach

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