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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
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| Full name | Abaluhya Football Club Leopards Sports Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Ingwe (The Leopards) | ||
| Short name | AFC | ||
| Founded | 12 March 1964 | ||
| Ground | Nyayo National Stadium Nairobi | ||
| Capacity | 15,000 | ||
| Chairman | Dan Shikanda | ||
| Head coach | Tomáš Trucha | ||
| League | Kenyan Premier League | ||
| 2023–24 | KPL, 5th of 18 | ||
| Website | http://www.afcleopards.co.ke/ | ||
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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
editThe 1960s
editFrom 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
editThis 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
editIn 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
editLeague
edit- 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
edit- 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
edit- First round exits: 1971, 1972, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1993, 1999
- Second round exits: 1989
- Quarter-finals: 1974, 1990
- Semi-final: 1968
- Preliminary round exits: 2010
Players
editCurrent squad
edit- 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.
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Out On Loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Footballing and medical staff
edit| Position | Name | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach |  Tomáš Trucha
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Assistant coach |  Fred Ambani
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| Goalkeeper coach | Haggai Azande
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| Team Manager | Bernard Mang'oli | ||
| Team Doctor | Patrick Ngusale
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| Physiotherapist | Joshua Osir
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| Fitness coach | Vincent Mbwabi
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Board of directors
edit| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Dan Shikanda[9]
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| Secretary General | Gilbert Andugu[9]
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| Treasurer | Oliver Napali Imbenzi[9]
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| Committee Member | Diana Obbayi[10]
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| Committee Member | Caroline Walusaga[10]
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Coaches and managers
edit|
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Jonathan Niva | 1966-1970 |
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Jonathan Niva | 1973-1977 |
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Robert Kiberu | 1979-1984 |
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Gerry Saurer | 1984-1985 |
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Graham Williams | 1986-1987 |
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Joe Masiga | 1987 (player/manager) |
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Charles Gyamfi | 1988-1991 |
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Jan Koops | 2012 |
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Luc Eymael | 2013 |
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Hendrik Pieter De Jongh | 2014[11] |
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Zdravko Logarušić | 2015 |
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Jan Koops | 2016 |
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Ivan Minnaert | 2016 |
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Stewart Hall | 2016-2017 |
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Dorian Marin | 2017 |
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Robert Matano | 2017-2018 |
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Rodolfo Zapata | 2018 |
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Nikola Kavazović | 2018 |
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Marko Vasiljević | 2018-2019 |
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Andre Cassa Mbungo | 2019-2020 |
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Anthony Kimani | 2020 |
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Tomáš Trucha | 2020 |
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Anthony Kimani† | 2020-2021 |
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Patrick Aussems | 2021-2023 |
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Tomáš Trucha | 2023 till present |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Kenya - List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ admin. "The 2000s: Little success and decline". Archived from the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ Daily Nation, 5 January 2004: Oyugi speaks on state of soccer Archived 17 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kenyafootball, 17 November 2008: AFC Leopards confirmed for 2009 Premier League Archived 16 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ admin (18 March 2019). "The 1960s: The Good Beginnings". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ admin (18 March 2019). "The 1970s: Legacy Building". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ admin (18 March 2019). "The 1980s: The Golden Era". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ a b admin (18 March 2019). "The 1990s: The New Era". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ a b AFC Leopards [@afcleopards] (16 July 2022). "With this development this is how our NEC looks like ..." (Tweet). Retrieved 17 August 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "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