Kenya’s oldest club AFC Leopards’ have begun laying the ground for their 60th Anniversary set to officially begin today.
The festivities are meant to celebrate the club’s prosperous history that boasts, among other things, a rich trophy cabinet.
The side has a remarkable heritage since its start in 1964, with 12 league titles, 10 domestic cups and five Cecafa Club Championships among other achievements.
Leopards have lined up an international friendly encounter against Spanish fourth-tier side, AE Ramassa at the Nyayo Stadium on March 24 as part of its itinerary.
A scintillating encounter between AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia legends will precede the tie. Club honcho Dan Shikanda expressed a lot of optimism ahead of the festivities.
“This is a historic occasion. As a club, we wish to take stock of where we are at sixty years old. As we consider our future course, we’re thinking back to the times when our ancestors founded the team, won championships, faced relegation and eventually triumphed,” he stated.
“We are finalising all plans and as soon as we are done, we will let the public and our fans know. I can’t reveal their identity just yet, but a Spanish squad will certainly be coming to Kenya to play against us.”
“The festivities honour the community that has stood by the team through good times and bad. They are not just about football.”
Visits to children’s homes will be part of the ceremonial kick-off today, signifying the club’s dedication to contributing to the community.
“We’ll cut the cake at a ceremony to greet our followers and honour our legacy. To respect our heritage and customs, we are also planning a meal with Luhya leaders,” club CEO Albert Wesonga disclosed.
AFC Leopards’ commitment to the environment will be evident as club branches around the nation prepare to plant two million trees. In addition, AFC will have Inter-branch competitions on March 22 and a grand banquet on the same day.
Leopards, who placed second in the Kenyan Premier League in 2013 and 2017, have nonetheless struggled to impress in recent years. They have been in the cold without the KPL title for the past two decades.
To the amazement of their devoted supporters, Leopards have zealously managed to turn around their fortunes after starting the 2023–2024 season on a disastrous note.
The fact that the Cats have gone eight games without losing, speaks volumes about their amazing form as they enter the final stretch of their remarkable campaign. Things are looking bright as they prepare to celebrate their 60th anniversary this week.
The most recent achievement of Ingwe was a well-earned 2-0 victory over Nzoia Sugar, a rival team in the Sugar Belt, at Nyayo Stadium over the weekend.
Head coach Thomas Trucha believes that his team has now established a foothold in the fierce elite league, overcoming significant obstacles to maintain their distant title hopes.
Many of their devoted fans have returned to the stadium stands that seemed empty not so long ago when they were a faint shell of their former selves, thanks to their electrifying performance. Trucha has credited the players’ rapid success to their ability to adapt to his coaching philosophy.
“Since taking over a few months ago, I’ve set adequate time aside to teach a new philosophy and playing style which have impacted positively on our results,” Trucha said.
“I am a great believer in work ethics, and I always emphasize the necessity of working hard in training and during matches. There is no room for complacency in my team,” Trucha said.
Trucha said he has observed marked improvement in the attitude of his charges who are more determined than before to secure maximum points in the games they compete in. What impresses him all the more is the fierce competition for slots in the starting lineup.
“There is more commitment to training and the boys are now alive to the fact that they must work extremely hard to be named in the first eleven where nobody is guaranteed a slot,” Trucha said.
“This heightened level of commitment and competition informs the near-perfect run in our recent fixtures,” he added.
Before the Nzoia conquest, Leopards had wreaked havoc on opponents at whim, securing crucial wins over Ulinzi Stars, Muhoroni Youth, City Stars, Kariobangi Sharks, Murang’a Seal and PAC University in the Round of 32 of the FKF Cup.
Since the year began, they have dropped only two points in their barren draw against Homeboyz at Bukhungu Stadium this year.
Although their next league tie is an acid test against an equally high-flying Tusker FC, Leopards head into their fixture high on confidence buoyed up by a string of master-class acts in their recent outings. Veteran midfielder Clifton believes that if they organize their affairs, they can easily win the championship. According to Miheso, they hope to have a potent second leg.
“Since last year’s performance did not live up to our expectations, we hope for an extremely successful second leg. Despite how we played in the first leg, as players, we are motivated to move the squad up the standings,” Miheso remarked.
“Everyone wants to perform well and pick up wins now that the year has arrived. They have a powerful side, but we’re up for the fight. Nothing else matters to us; obtaining three points is our main goal,” he continued.
Miheso also urged fans to turn out in huge numbers to support the team. “Despite a rocky start last year, we finished strong, and we encourage our fans to continue supporting us. We promise to fight hard to lift the club out of its current situation,” he continued.
AFC history dates back to 1964 when a host of the luhyia sub-tribes amalgamated to form the club. They included the Kisa, Tiriki, Busamia, Lurambi, Butsotso, Bushibungo and Eshirot.
Probably what propelled the team to unprecedented success was the immense power that resulted from their combined efforts.
The club won the Saba-Saba Cup the same year it was established, following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Luo Union Football Club. In the 1970s, the club focused on preparing the foundation for a magnificent era.
They tucked away the Olympic football tournament, a competition established by the government to collect funds for the Commonwealth Games team.
During this period, AFC was required to drop the Abaluhya moniker by an executive order issued by Kenya’s then-President, Daniel Torotich Arap Moi.
Leopards boasted one of the most lethal and proficient squads in the ‘80s. The attacking, midfield, and defensive units were strong, and the coach was outstanding.
Among Ingwe’s most decorated sons was the legendary Francis Kadenge who wreaked havoc on opponents with incessant inroads on the right flank. The team’s incredible speed made them a problem for their opponents.
During this period, the club bagged a wide array of silverware while dominating both domestic and regional fronts at whim.
In 1989, the AFC Leopards won the league. Even though they did not win the Moi Golden Cup Final, they provided a tough challenge in the final.
The club continued to expand throughout the next decade, winning and losing domestic and regional tournaments. The 2000s were the most defining decade for the football club since they saw both ends of the football spectrum.
In 2006, the club performed dismally and got relegated. Most who were looking forward to amazing AFC Leopards results were shocked at the reality.
Thankfully, the team prospered and gained promotion in 2008 after settling down and deciding to play in lower division leagues.
This established the club’s new story in the Kenyan Premier League, where they refocused on winning the majority of matches.
The players of AFC Leopards have a long history of triumphing in many competitions.
In its 56 years of existence, the club has won numerous cups in a variety of competitions. Among them are 12 Kenyan Premier League titles in 1966,1968, 1970,1973, 1980,1981,1982, 1986,1988,1989, 1992 and 1998.
They can also brag of winning the President’s Cup in 1967, 1968, 1984, 1985, 1991, 1994, 2001, 2009, and 2013, in addition to the Cecafa Club Cup in 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1997.
Eight times between 1970 and 1999, AFC Leopards were eliminated in the first round of the Africa Cup of Champions League. Even though they didn’t win in any of them, their involvement generated enough rivalry.
Since the AFC Leopards have been around since Kenya’s independence, they provide a true picture of the country’s football history.
The club’s supporters are incredibly supportive and have a deep spirit. It makes sense why the entire town is painted blue before every build-up to their games—that is their signature colour.
The side experienced challenging times in the 1990s due to financial struggles and subpar on-field results.
Nevertheless, the AFC Leopards’ 11-year trophy drought ended in 1998 when they won the Kenya Football Federation Cup.
In the early 2000s, the club started to regain its dominance in Kenyan football, winning the Kenyan Premier League title in 1999, 2000, and 2001. AFC Leopards further won the Cecafa Cup for the second time in their history in 2001.
The side found its footing in the Kenyan Premier League again in the early 2000s, clinching the league title three times in 1999, 2000, and 2001. In 2001, the Leopards achieved their second-ever Cecafa Cup victory.
Due to financial mismanagement, the club was demoted to the second division of Kenyan football in 2002. In 2004, they successfully fought their way back to the top-flight stage.
