SportPesa premier league club AFC leopards is set to unveil its new look team for the 2016 season next week on Tuesday January 19th Soka25east.com can reveal
According to the deputy chairman Dan Mule, the Ingwe management has requested all the players, new and old to re-apply for their Jobs before the technical bench settles for the best 25.
“It’s true we have asked everyone to apply a fresh. During the course of last season the team was characterized by indiscipline, with players failing to attend training and threatening to boycott matches. The new move is aimed at taming this kind of behavior as we look forward to a new season”Mule told Soka25east.com
The new Chairman Matthew Opwora weighing in to the matter said that all the powers have been given to the technical bench led by coach Jan Koops to vet all the players, those who still have running contracts with the club and the fresh ones.
“For a team to succeed the players have to be disciplined. We want quality players, who are not only disciplined but passionate to play for the team.”
“All we want are results, and we believe that the technical bench will not be biased but will hand over a list of all the deserving players” Opwora told Soka25east.com
Last year AFC Leopards found themselves swimming in murky waters with financial constrains threatening to take the team down.
This was attributed to the financial problems of sugar company Mumias who were the club’s official sponsor.
The Leopards management has also refuted claims of salary pay cut of the existing players. However, the club is looking forward to renegotiating with the players in a bid to bring down the clubs wage bill.
“We have not yet come to a final decision. We have not cut down players’ salaries. But, the new players who are coming in will have to be contented with new salaries. As for the players who still have running contracts with AFC Leopards, we have to renegotiate. We will do consultations before any move is made” Said Oporwa
“We are as well in talks with potential sponsors, so as to boost the team’s financial situation” he added
The team has been conducting trials for the last one week with over 70 prospects turning up.
The vetting is expected to be complete by early next week and a new team selected to kick start the Pre-season training.
The team finished 7th in the 2015 season with 41 points to qualify narrowly for the top 8 tournament.
The team hopes to be in good shape and in contention for all the trophies available this year.
