Experienced tactician Tom Juma has vowed to turn around the fortunes of Kenyan Premier League side AFC Leopards following his appointment as head coach on Tuesday.
Juma takes over from Patrick Aussems, a Belgian gaffer who announced his resignation a fortnight ago after spending four years at the club without winning a trophy.
In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Juma said his immediate task is to curtail the heart-wrenching title drought that has plagued the club since 1998.
"The club's protracted title drought has caused a lot of anxiety, so getting the top-flight trophy back to the den would be our priority," Juma remarked.
The ex-Kenyan international, who also plied trade for both AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia during his heydays as a player, reckons Ingwe boasts sufficient depth to assert authority in the new season.
"We have competent staff who will lead us through the upcoming season. We've been working with players who were promoted from the youth side for the past two years, and based on their performance the previous season, I believe they have now reached maturity," Juma said.
Juma, on the other hand, emphasised the need to bolster the squad, amid reports that some of their top players may be on their way out.
He made the remarks hours after the traditional top-flight behemoths confirmed him to the role in a statement signed by the club's top brass. "AFC Leopards is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Juma as the new head coach of the club," the statement read in part.
His appointment as head coach comes after a significant contribution as an integral member of the coaching staff in the previous seasons. The club has roped in former Wazito head coach Francis Ambani to deputise Juma.
Ambani said he was delighted to return to the top-flight stage after a long hiatus spanning over two seasons.
"AFC is one of those clubs that every coach would dream of guiding, and I feel privileged to be a part of the coaching staff," Ambani said in a separate interview.
On Tuesday, the two tacticians led a training session as the players returned to camp for the first time to prepare for the new season, which begins next month. Former FC Talanta striker Brian Yakhama has been spotted at the training site.
