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A.F.C. Leopards

Kenyan football club From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A.F.C. Leopards
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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.[2] The team currently plays most of its home games at the Nyayo National Stadium

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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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5]

Several teams in the Kenyan football league system are intimately linked to ethnic groups in Kenya; AFC Leopards are considered to represent the Luhya people of Western Kenya.

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History

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The 1960s

From 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. [6]

The 1970s and 80s: Legacy building and golden era

This 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.[7]

AFC Leopards marked the 80s by marking a period of dominance majorly in the domestic and regional scene.[8]

The 1990s and 2000s

In the 90s, achievements became less frequent, although in general, the team continued to win some championships thus never suffering a considerable title drought.[9]

The beginning of dismal campaigns for the following 10 years, including relegation from the top tier.[9]

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Club Identity

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Musalia Mudavadi is amongst the many Luhya politicians to patronise A.F.C. Leopards.

A.F.C. Leopards has historical ties to the Luhya people, one of Kenya’s largest ethnic groups, who are primarily located in Western Kenya.[10] The club was founded in 1964 as Abaluhya United FC, with the purpose of providing a platform for Luhya players based in Nairobi and other areas. This origin established a cultural link between the club and the Luhya people, which has influenced its identity over the years. The connection to the Luhya community is evident in the composition of players, coaches, and officials associated with the club, many of whom come from Western Kenya, especially Kakamega and nearby counties. This regional representation has contributed to a fan base that identifies with the club through shared ethnic and cultural backgrounds. In 1978, President Daniel arap Moi reaffirmed a policy initiated under Jomo Kenyatta that required all civic and sporting organisations in Kenya to remove names with explicit ethnic identifiers.[11] As a result, Abaluhya Football Club, which had been associated with the Luhya community since its founding in 1964, formally changed its name to All Footballers Confederation Leopards Sports Club, commonly known as A.F.C. Leopards. Nevertheless, while A.F.C. Leopards has grown to attract supporters from various parts of Kenya, the relationship with the Luhya community remains an important aspect of the club’s identity.

A.F.C. Leopards has a long history of political patronage from prominent Luhya leaders. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Martin Shikuku and Moses Mudavadi (father of Musalia Mudavadi) served as early patrons, using their influence to secure employment for players in the civil service and to support club operations.[12] More recently, Musalia Mudavadi, leader of the Amani National Congress and a lifelong Ingwe supporter, has provided direct financial assistance to the club. In June 2020, he donated KSh 633,000 to clear land rates on the 20-acre parcel allocated to the club in Kasarani and has pledged further support for a permanent stadium complex.[13] A.F.C. Leopards has also attracted backing from other Luhya politicians, including Alfred Sambu (former Webuye East MP and ex-chairman of the club) and Cyrus Jirongo,[12] as well as regional leaders such as Ken Lusaka and Edwin Sifuna, who in 2024 publicly endorsed plans to corporatise the club and invited wider investment to secure its financial future.[14]

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Honours

League

Cup

Performance in CAF competitions

African Cup of Champions Clubs/CAF Champions League

CAF Confederation Cup

  • Preliminary round exits: 2010

CAF Cup

African Cup Winners' Cup

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Players

Current squad

As of 2 November 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

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Out On Loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

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Footballing and medical staff

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Board of directors

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Coaches and managers

Kenya Jonathan Niva 1966– 1970
Kenya Jonathan Niva 1973– 1977
Uganda Robert Kiberu 1979– 1984
Austria Gerry Saurer 1984–1985
Wales Graham Williams 1986– 1987
Kenya Joe Masiga 1987 (player/manager)
Ghana Charles Gyamfi 1988– 1991
Malawi Reuben Malola 1991– 1993
Netherlands Jan Koops 2012
Belgium Luc Eymael 2013
Netherlands Hendrik Pieter De Jongh 2014[17]
Croatia Zdravko Logarušić 2015
Netherlands Jan Koops 2016
Belgium Ivan Minnaert 2016
England Stewart Hall 2016– 2017
Romania Dorian Marin 2017
Kenya Robert Matano 2017– 2018
Argentina Rodolfo Zapata 2018
Serbia Nikola Kavazović 2018
Serbia Marko Vasiljević 2018– 2019
Rwanda Andre Cassa Mbungo 2019– 2020
Kenya Anthony Kimani 2020
Czech Republic Tomáš Trucha 2020
Kenya Anthony Kimani 2020– 2021
Belgium Patrick Aussems 2021– 2023
Czech Republic Tomáš Trucha 2023– (present)
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See also

References

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