A.F.C. Leopards

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AFC Leopards
AFC Leopards.png
Full nameAbaluhya Football Club Leopards Sports Club
Nickname(s)Ingwe (The Leopards)
Short nameAFC, Leopards
Founded12 March 1964;60 years ago (1964-03-12)
Ground Nyayo National Stadium
Nairobi
Capacity15,000
ChairmanDan Shikanda
Head Coach Tomáš Trucha
League Kenyan Premier League
2022–23 Kenyan Premier League, 9th of 18
Website Club website

Abaluhya Football Club Leopards Sports Club, officially abbreviated as AFC Leopards, or simply known as AFC, Leopards or Ingwe ( Luyia for 'Leopards'), is a Kenyan association 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

Contents

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 Honours

Cup Honours

Performance in CAF competitions

African Cup of Champions Clubs/CAF Champions League

CAF Confederation Cup

CAF Cup

African Cup Winners' Cup

Players

Current squad

As of 2 November 2020

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
3 DF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Washington Munene
5 DF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Tedian Esilaba
7 MF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Victor Otieno
8 MF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Brian Wanyama
11 FW Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Hansel Ochieng
12 DF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Isaac Kipyegon(Captain)
13 FW Flag of Burundi.svg  BDI Bienvenue Shaka
14 MF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Peter Thiongo
15 DF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Robert Mudenyu
16 GK Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Maxwell Mulili
17 MF Flag of Rwanda.svg  RWA Fabrice Mugheni
18 FW Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Boniface Mukhekhe
19 MF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Eugene Mukangula
No.Pos.NationPlayer
20 FW Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Dan Sunguti
21 DF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Collins Shichenje
22 DF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Collins Shivachi
23 MF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Austin Odhiambo
24 DF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Omar Somobwana
25 DF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Lewis Bandi
25 MF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Clyde Senaji
26 MF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Marvin Nabwire
27 FW Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Jaffery Odeny Awiti
40 MF Flag of South Sudan.svg  SSD Saad Musa
77 FW Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Caleb Olilo
99 GK Flag of Uganda.svg  UGA Benjamin Ochan
– FW Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Dan Sunguti
– MF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Sellasie Otieno(On loan from Liberty Sports Academy)
– MF Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Gideon Waja

Out On Loan

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
– GK Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Maxwell Mulili (at Zoo Kericho)
– MF Flag of Kenya.svg  KEN Dan Musamali (at Nzoia Sugar)

Footballing and medical staff

PositionName
Head coachFlag placeholder.svg Thomas Trucha Assistant coach Flag of Kenya.svg Fred Ambani
Goalkeeper coach Flag of Kenya.svg Haggai Azande
Team ManagerBernard Mang'oli
Team Doctor Flag of Kenya.svg Patrick Ngusale
Physiotherapist Flag of Kenya.svg Joshua Osir
Fitness coach Flag of Kenya.svg Vincent Mbwabi

Board of directors

PositionName
Chairman Flag of Kenya.svg Dan Shikanda [9]
Secretary General Flag of Kenya.svg Gilbert Andugu [9]
Treasurer Flag of Kenya.svg Oliver Napali Imbenzi [9]
Committee Member Flag of Kenya.svg Diana Obbayi [10]
Committee Member Flag of Kenya.svg Caroline Walusaga [10]

Coaches and managers

Flag of Kenya.svg Jonathan Niva 1966-1970
Flag of Kenya.svg Jonathan Niva 1973-1977
Flag of Uganda.svg Robert Kiberu 1979-1984
Flag of Austria.svg Gerry Saurer1984-1985
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Graham Williams 1986-1987
Flag of Kenya.svg Joe Masiga 1987 (player/manager)
Flag of Ghana.svg Charles Gyamfi 1988-1991
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Koops2012
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Luc Eymael 2013
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Hendrik Pieter De Jongh 2014 [11]
Flag of Croatia.svg Zdravko Logarušić 2015
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Koops 2016
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ivan Minnaert 2016
Flag of England.svg Stewart Hall 2016-2017
Flag of Romania.svg Dorian Marin 2017
Flag of Kenya.svg Robert Matano 2017-2018
Flag of Argentina.svg Rodolfo Zapata 2018
Flag of Serbia.svg Nikola Kavazović 2018
Flag of Serbia.svg Marko Vasiljević 2018-2019
Flag of Rwanda.svg Andre Cassa Mbungo 2019-2020
Flag of Kenya.svg Anthony Kimani 2020
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Thomas Trucha 2020
Flag of Kenya.svg Anthony Kimani †2020-2021
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Patrick Aussems 2021- Present

† Interim Manager

See also

Related Research Articles

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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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 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

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