Ingwe midfielder Miheso has voiced his thoughts following a bonus dispute that led to a boycott of training sessions on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. AFC Leopards’ star player Clifton Miheso has issued a comforting message to the club’s fans after a week filled with turmoil due to a boycott over delayed payments.
The team has now resumed their preparation for the upcoming FKF Premier League game against Nzoia Sugar, set for Sunday, March 3, at the Nyayo National Stadium, which comes shortly after their domestic cup win against PAC University. AFC Leopards had stopped their training last week, protesting unpaid victory bonuses.
With the team back to training, Miheso shared his positive outlook on the team’s future and their commitment to climbing higher in the league rankings.
“Currently being eighth in the standings is not where AFC Leopards should be. At the beginning of the league, we had many new faces and a new coach, Tom Juma, which required some time for everyone to mesh together.
“It was a tough start for us, but we have since found our rhythm. Later on, we welcomed a new coach, Tomas Trucha, and with each game we’ve played, there’s been noticeable improvement,” Miheso commented during an interview on KTN television.
Despite managing a scoreless draw against the strong Kakamega Homeboyz in their previous match, Miheso recognized the difficulty in overtaking league leaders Gor Mahia but focused on securing a commendable league finish.
“We’re aiming for a top-three finish, but anything is possible; the leading team could slip, and we might just sneak up, but our goal is to end in a respectable position,” he further stated.
These remarks come amidst reports that the players had received Ksh20,000 each in allowances, despite securing five wins in their last six league matches.
The delay in payments resulted in the refusal to train on Wednesday, February 21, even after discussions with the club’s chairman, Dan Shikanda. It’s noted that Leopards’ players are rewarded with bonuses between Ksh5,000 and Ksh10,000 for each victory.
Despite financial hurdles, AFC Leopards depends on sponsorship from Betika, valued at Ksh65 million per season, along with gate receipts, merchandise sales, membership fees, and contributions from supporters to sustain its operations. Presently, the Leopards hold the eighth spot in the 18-team league with 31 points from 22 matches, lagging 16 points behind leaders and rivals Gor Mahia.
“Our next game is against Nzoia Sugar, and we are determined to win and continue our ascent up the table,” Miheso concluded.
