A.F.C. Leopards

AFC Leopards

Full name	Abaluhya Football Club Leopards Sports Club
Nickname(s)	Ingwe (The Leopards)
Short name	AFC
Founded	12 March 1964;61 years ago (1964-03-12)
Ground	Nyayo National Stadium Nairobi
Capacity	15,000
Chairman	Dan Shikanda
Head coach	Fred Ambani
League	Kenyan Premier League
2023–24	KPL, 5th of 18
Website	www.afcleopards.co.ke
Home colours Away colours

Abaluhya Football Club Leopards Sports Club, officially abbreviated as AFC Leopards, is a Kenyan professional football club based in Nairobi. It currently competes in the Kenyan Premier League, the top tier of the Kenyan football league system, and was founded in 1964 by football lovers from the Luhya community. With 12 top-flight league titles to their name, AFC Leopards is Kenya's third most successful club behind Tusker FC (13 titles) and Gor Mahia (18 titles), the latter with whom they regularly contest the Mashemeji Derby. ^[1] The team currently plays most of its home games at the Nyayo National Stadium

AFC Leopards' standing as one of the most successful clubs in the region is underlined by the fact that it has won the Kenyan Premier League 12 times. AFC Leopards has also won the Kenya Cup 10 times, and the CECAFA Club Championship 5 times. ^[2]

The club was formed in 1964 as Abaluhya United Football Club. In 1973 the club changed its name to Abaluhya Football Club when a number of small clubs amalgamated. ^[3] In 1980 the club was renamed AFC Leopards, the name it holds until present.

In 2008 they played in the Nationwide League and won the title in their zone. They returned to the Kenyan Premier League for the 2009 season in which it also won the KFF Cup. ^[4]

History

The 1960s

From the 1960s or even earlier; the notion and formation of various Abaluhya teams for invitational matches became the forerunner of what eventually would become Abaluhya United. On 12 March 1964, the East African Standard newspaper published a report on the birth of a new club known as Abaluhya Football Club, which resulted from the amalgamation of Marama, Samia United and Bunyore; all Nairobi based clubs that were in Division 1 of the Kenya National Football League. The amalgamation process also included lower division clubs such as Kisa, Tiriki, Bukusu Brotherhood, Busamia, Lurambi, Butsotso, Bushibungo and Eshirotsa thus building its base and establishments that would make it a success in the future. ^[5]

The 1970s and 80s: Legacy building and golden era

This was a period of sustained performance from the club, which brought it more fame. This included winning the Kenya National Football League in an unbeaten fashion, in the process becoming the first Kenyan club to do so. ^[6]

AFC Leopards marked the 80s by marking a period of dominance majorly in the domestic and regional scene. ^[7]

The 1990s and 2000s

In the 90s, achievements became less frequent, although in general, the team continued to win some championships thus never suffering a considerable title drought. ^[8]

The beginning of dismal campaigns for the following 10 years, including relegation from the top tier. ^[8]

Honours

League

• Kenya National Football League/Kenyan Super League/Kenyan Premier League
  • Champions (12): 1966, 1967, 1970, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1998
• Kenyan Nationwide League
  • Champions (Promoted): 2008

Cup

• FKF President's Cup: 10
  • Champions (10): 1967, 1968,1984, 1985, 1991, 1994, 2001, 2009, 2013, 2017
  • Runners-up: 1987, 1997, 2000, 2003
• CECAFA Club Cup: 5
  • Champions (5): 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1997.
  • Runner's Up: 1974, 1980, 1985
• CECAFA Nile Basin Cup
  • Runners-up: 2014

Performance in CAF competitions

African Cup of Champions Clubs/CAF Champions League

• First round exits: 1971, 1972, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1993, 1999
• Second round exits: 1989
• Quarter-finals: 1974, 1990
• Semi-final: 1968

CAF Confederation Cup

• Preliminary round exits: 2010

CAF Cup

• Quarter-finals: 1994, 1997

African Cup Winners' Cup

• First round exits: 1992, 1992, 2002
• Second round exits: 1986
• Quarter-final exits: 1988
• Semi-final exits: 1985

Players

Current squad

As of 2 November 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 3 DF   KEN Washington Munene 5 DF   KEN Tedian Esilaba 7 MF   KEN Victor Otieno 8 MF   KEN Brian Wanyama 11 FW   KEN Hansel Ochieng 12 DF   KEN Isaac Kipyegon(Captain) 13 FW   BDI Bienvenue Shaka 14 MF   KEN Peter Thiongo 15 DF   KEN Robert Mudenyu 16 GK   KEN Maxwell Mulili 17 MF   RWA Fabrice Mugheni 18 FW   KEN Boniface Mukhekhe 19 MF   KEN Eugene Mukangula

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 FW   KEN Dan Sunguti 21 DF   KEN Collins Shichenje 22 DF   KEN Collins Shivachi 23 MF   KEN Austin Odhiambo 24 DF   KEN Omar Somobwana 25 DF   KEN Lewis Bandi 25 MF   KEN Clyde Senaji 26 MF   KEN Marvin Nabwire 27 FW   KEN Jaffery Odeny Awiti 40 MF   SSD Saad Musa 77 FW   KEN Caleb Olilo 99 GK   UGA Benjamin Ochan – FW   KEN Dan Sunguti – MF   KEN Sellasie Otieno(On loan from Liberty Sports Academy) – MF   GHA Gideon Waja

Out On Loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player – GK   KEN Maxwell Mulili (at Zoo Kericho) – MF   KEN Dan Musamali (at Nzoia Sugar)

Footballing and medical staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Tomáš Trucha
Assistant coach	Fred Ambani
Goalkeeper coach	Haggai Azande
Team Manager	Bernard Mang'oli
Team Doctor	Patrick Ngusale
Physiotherapist	Joshua Osir
Fitness coach	Vincent Mbwabi

Board of directors

Position	Name
Chairman	Dan Shikanda [9]
Secretary General	Gilbert Andugu [9]
Treasurer	Oliver Napali Imbenzi [9]
Committee Member	Diana Obbayi [10]
Committee Member	Caroline Walusaga [10]

Coaches and managers

	Jonathan Niva	1966– 1970
	Jonathan Niva	1973– 1977
	Robert Kiberu	1979– 1984
	Gerry Saurer	1984–1985
	Graham Williams	1986– 1987
	Joe Masiga	1987 (player/manager)
	Charles Gyamfi	1988– 1991
	Reuben Malola	1991– 1993
	Jan Koops	2012
	Luc Eymael	2013
	Hendrik Pieter De Jongh	2014 [11]
	Zdravko Logarušić	2015
	Jan Koops	2016
	Ivan Minnaert	2016
	Stewart Hall	2016– 2017
	Dorian Marin	2017
	Robert Matano	2017– 2018
	Rodolfo Zapata	2018
	Nikola Kavazović	2018
	Marko Vasiljević	2018– 2019
	Andre Cassa Mbungo	2019– 2020
	Anthony Kimani	2020
	Tomáš Trucha	2020
	Anthony Kimani †	2020– 2021
	Patrick Aussems	2021– 2023
	Tomáš Trucha	2023– (present)

See also

• A.F.C. Leopards–Gor Mahia rivalry

References

1. "Kenya - List of Champions". RSSSF . Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
2. admin. "The 2000s: Little success and decline". Archived from the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
3. Daily Nation, 5 January 2004: Oyugi speaks on state of soccer Archived 17 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
4. Kenyafootball, 17 November 2008: AFC Leopards confirmed for 2009 Premier League Archived 16 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
5. admin (18 March 2019). "The 1960s: The Good Beginnings". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
6. admin (18 March 2019). "The 1970s: Legacy Building". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
7. admin (18 March 2019). "The 1980s: The Golden Era". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
8. admin (18 March 2019). "The 1990s: The New Era". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
9. "2022 Annual General Meeting: Club election results". AFC Leopards SC. 27 June 2022. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
10. AFC Leopards [@afcleopards] (16 July 2022). "With this development this is how our NEC looks like ..." (Tweet). Retrieved 17 August 2022– via Twitter.
11. "Troubled Leopards send Dutch coach De Jongh packing". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2018.

Sources

• The Standard, 23 July 2006:Once proud ‘Ingwe’ bite relegation bullet ^{[ usurped ]}
• Kenya Premier League,8 February 2009 :Over-flowing crowds finally a 'crisis'? Hope Centre ground fails to cope

External links

• Official website
• A.F.C. Leopards Livescores