AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has unreservedly apologized to Sofapaka following his remarks made over the weekend.
Shikanda, while appearing of an online show dubbed 'Radull Live' hosted by seasoned sports journalist Carol Radull, denied the existence of Sofapaka triggering a reaction from the 2009 league champions.
"Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards are bigger than the federation. I just know KCB as a bank and I have never known a team calling itself Sofapaka," said Shikanda during the interview where he was hosted alongside Gor chairman Ambrose Rachier.
Shikanda's sentiments did not sit well with Sofapaka who, in a terse letter, demanded an apology from the former Kenyan international for demeaning them.
“This is lack of respect and we demand an immediate apology from AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda. He should know that Sofapaka is in the history books as one of the teams that won the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) on its debut season,” read part of the letter from Batoto Ba Mungu.
Shikanda has, however, come out to exonerate himself of any wrongdoing saying that his sentiments were taken out of context. He said he had reached out to Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa and tendered his apologies and was willing to do it in writing.
"We have been friends with Sofapaka for years and whatever I said during the interview was probably interpreted wrongly. I did not mean to demean them or portray the club as nondescript. I made the remarks in a light moment but if anyone from the club or any stakeholder was offended then I offer an apology. I called Kalekwa after it appeared that my sentiments were misinterpreted and sorted things out," he said.
Shikanda, meanwhile, said he was keen to pay Sofapaka the outstanding debt incurred from the sale of Rwandese defender Soter Kayumba once they secure a new shirt sponsor.
Kayumba joined the den from Sofapaka in March last year albeit on loan and later made the deal permanent. However last weekend's incident rekindled talks over the unpaid debt over the players, who left Leopards in November last year, penning a deal back at home with Rayon Sports after going for months without pay.
"It's true we did not pay Sofapaka after agreeing to a deal for the defender. We will, however, endeavour to clear with them once we nail down a sponsor. I respect the club and their president for managing it in the top flight for more than a decade," he added.
