Battle for the den: Ambani, Mutoka promise revival ahead of Sunday vote

Former AFC Leopards striker Boniface Ambani and ex-commercial director Enos Mutoka have less than a week to convince 2,706 club members to elect them as the next chairman of the 12-time Kenyan Premier League champions.

The two aspirants went head-to-head in a televised debate on Citizen TV’s Sporty Monday, where they shared their visions for restoring the glory of one of Kenya’s most iconic football clubs.

Ambani, a former player and youth team coach at AFC Leopards, is hoping to succeed outgoing chairman Dan Shikanda. He believes his experience on the pitch and the bench gives him a unique edge in understanding the team’s challenges.

“There is so much to be done at AFC Leopards. I’ve been there as a player and as a coach, so I understand the nitty-gritty of what it takes to bring back trophies,” said Ambani during the show, hosted by Isaac Swila-Tijan.

Ambani vowed to prioritize quality over quantity in player recruitment, accusing previous managements of signing players “just for the sake of it.”

“AFC Leopards have always gone for numbers instead of quality. We will sit down with the scouting and technical teams to assess our strengths and weaknesses before making targeted signings. Anyone joining the team must be a quality player,” he emphasized.

He also promised to improve club merchandise sales as a revenue-generating strategy to boost financial stability.

Mutoka, on the other hand, focused on the financial side of club revival, highlighting his past role as commercial director and his plans to attract more sponsorship deals.

“We want to bring AFC Leopards back to winning ways. I have the passion, and with the right partnerships, this team will be unstoppable. If elected chairman, I can promise that Leopards will win the league next season,” Mutoka declared.

He lamented the club’s financial constraints during transfer windows, noting that Ingwe often loses out on key targets to better-funded rivals.

“I will work tirelessly to secure sponsors and inject financial strength into the club. That way, we can compete for top-tier players and support our coach’s vision,” said Mutoka.

With both candidates now having presented their plans, the decision rests with the club’s members, who will cast their votes this Sunday to determine the club’s next chairman.