• “Everyone is aware of the challenges that we grappled with for the past two or three seasons. The main one is the transfer ban that was imposed by Fifa that made it impossible for us to sign new players,” Juma remarked.
• He expressed confidence in his ability to guide the club to the winners’ podium at the end of the upcoming season, which kicks off on August 16.
Image: HANDOUT
AFC Leopards head coach Tom Juma said they are eager plunge into the market in search of quality signings to revamp the squad even as the Kenyan Premier League kick off beckons.
Juma is hopeful that the club will clear the outstanding arrears owed to former players in good time, which will automatically allow the him to make additions to his squad.
The former Leopards player, who assumed the reigns last month, bemoaned the existing far-reaching transfer ban imposed by the world football governing body, Fifa, saying it had limited Ingwe’s charge for the title in the last three seasons.
“Everyone is aware of the challenges that we grappled with for the past two or three seasons. The main one is the transfer ban that was imposed by Fifa that made it impossible for us to sign new players,” Juma remarked.
“We have been forced to rely on the same crop of players for the last two seasons, most of whom were promoted from the academy side. We appreciate their awesome contribution to the team but an excellent performance demands quality signings.”
The gaffer said they had already identified key areas in the team that need to be addressed if they are to reach their full potential.
“We plan to recruit at least eight players to boost all the departments. We hope everything will turn out positively as far as the Fifa cases are concerned to allow us to strengthen the team. Once we’ve done that we will be good to go,” he said.
Juma said they are under intense pressure from their ardent fans to deliver the title after a two-decade drought.
“We have big ambitions as has always been the case. Our objective is to win the title, nothing short of that. Anything less than the trophy is regarded as a failure by our fans,” Juma said.
He expressed confidence in his ability to guide the club to the winners’ podium at the end of the upcoming season, which kicks off on August 16.
“The office gave me this position because they believe in my abilities. There will be continuity given I’ve been part of this bench for a long time now. I intend to build upon the foundation that my predecessor established,” he said.
He, however, admitted time is not on their side and they will have to intensify their training to attain the desired fitness levels.
“We begun our preparations a little bit late,” he observed.
Juma was confirmed as Ingwe’s new head coach after Belgian Patrick Aussems announced his departure a fortnight ago after a trophyless four-year stint at the club.