Underrate Leopards at your own peril next season, warns Juma
AFC Leopards deputy coach Tom “Gaza” Juma is expressing optimism for a great performance in the upcoming 2023 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League that is tentatively programmed to kick off on August 27.
Juma said he is confident that Leopards, alias Ingwe, would give other teams a run for their money despite the club has not made any major no major signings due to the player transfer ban by FIFA.
“We are looking forward to a good season and you can rest assured that AFC Leopards will not be in the league to make up numbers but to challenge for the top-tier league title. Of course, we do not expect an easy season but from what I have seen in training, the players are determined to do well,” he observed.
Speaking after the team’s second week of pre-season training, Juma said the team would rope in three or four players from its junior ranks as a stop-gap measure for most of the experienced players who have yet to link up with their colleagues.
“There are several junior players who I believe can help the team’s course moving forward. We have most of them on board but I expect the team to report a full house hopefully this week.
The technical bench wants to come up with a team that will exhibit a good style of football to make our fans happy and indeed others,” he said.
The tactician, who is holding brief for senior trainer Patrick Aussiems, urged the club’s faithful to remain patient as the technical bench tries to find a winning formula in the league.
“The resolve by the players is there and I believe hard work by each of them will ultimately be the one that shall win us the title that has eluded us since 1998.
