Despite a morale-boosting victory over Kakamega Homeboyz, AFC Leopards are still struggling. Pulse Sports outlines the reasons for their difficulties. The Leopards recently notched their second season win with a 2-0 triumph over Kakamega Homeboyz, relieving some pressure off the players and coach Tomas Trucha.
This season has been unexpectedly challenging for the Leopards. Last year’s seventh-place finish raised hopes for improvement, particularly with new player signings, but the team’s performance has declined.
Before defeating Homeboyz, Ingwe had a disappointing record: one win in 14 games, with eight draws and five losses. Cliffton Miheso’s penalty and Hassan Beja’s goal lifted them from 15th to 13th in the standings. Despite this, their problems are largely self-inflicted due to various missteps over the years. Pulse Sports identifies key issues contributing to Ingwe’s current struggles.
Inept Leadership
The club’s leadership, particularly under Chairman Dan Shikanda, has been criticized for ineffective management and lack of long-term planning. Frequent coaching changes (16 coaches in 11 years) without addressing underlying issues have not helped.
Disharmony
Internal conflicts within the club’s hierarchy have hindered decision-making, contributing to the team’s instability. Past and present officials have often clashed, impacting the club’s performance.
Poor Recruitment
Flawed recruitment strategies have led to the signing of sub-par players. The transfer committee’s decisions have been questioned, and a rushed player registration process has resulted in an unbalanced and underperforming squad.
Identity Crisis
Regular changes in players and coaches have prevented the establishment of a consistent playing style. The lack of continuity and training time has left the team dependent on sporadic moments of individual brilliance.
Lack of Goals
The team’s goal-scoring struggles are evident, with only 11 goals this season, many from penalties or set-pieces. The lack of a reliable striker has resulted in numerous draws that could have been wins, adding pressure on the team.
These factors have combined to leave AFC Leopards in a precarious position, with a need for significant changes to reverse their fortunes.
