Leopards out to reclaim its spot, says team captain Munene

Team captain Washington Munene on Wednesday stressed the challenges they faced in recent years due to limitations in player signings but is confident they'll be a force this term, after the addition of 18 new players to the club's roster

"We've encountered hurdles in the past seasons due to constraints on player acquisitions, but we still managed to put up a competitive fight. This time around, we're better equipped and ready to compete strongly in both the league and cup," Munene told Citizen Digital, reflecting the team's newfound confidence.

Kasarani Stadium will be the battleground for this weekend's showdown, as Tom Juma's men go head-to-head against KCB. For KCB, this will mark their first match of the new campaign, as their initial fixture against Kakamega Homeboyz was postponed due to their continental commitments.

The Leopards captain was also quick to acknowledge the quality of their opposition. He said:  "Our opponents  KCB are a good team. We respect them but I think when it reaches the weekend we cannot talk much. The ground and our feet will do the talking."

The pressure on Munene as Leopards' new captain is undeniable. The club's rich history and aspirations to clinch trophies and compete on the international stage place a significant weight on his shoulders. However his optimism shines through as he asserted the team's ambitions to bridge the gap left by former players and elevate the current squad to its 'rightful place'.

"The club has its goals and they want to win trophies. They want to go back to compete internationally in Africa. The players that we have here have a big gap to fill. Our biggest aim is to take the club where its supposed to be." Munene affirmed.

With the return of Kevin Kimani and Aziz Okaka from Wazito, Clifton Miheso from Kenya Police, Hassan Beja from Nzoia Sugar, and Hassan Beja [Wazito], the team's aim of success will be directed by the experience that has been added in the attacking areas. The four new additions should aid the team's effort to start producing more offensively by bringing some attacking flair.