AFC Leopards chairman, Dan Shikanda, has reflected on the state of the club when he assumed leadership, describing it as a dire situation bordering on possible relegation.
Speaking on September 11, 2023, Shikanda emphasized that the club was in disarray when he took the helm.
“I took the leadership when Leopards were 18th on the log, we came in as a rescue team, and the players we had had no quality,” Shikanda stated.
The former Kenyan international, who has been steering AFC Leopards since 2019, believes that without his intervention and that of his team, the club might have faced relegation.
He also addressed the demanding nature of AFC Leopards fans, asserting that their potential relegation couldn’t be attributed to his management style.
“If it weren’t for our strategic planning and understanding of the game, I believe Leopards would have faced relegation. People might have thought it was due to mismanagement, but I disagree,” Shikanda explained.
Shikanda, now in his second and final term as AFC Leopards chairman, admitted that he initially underestimated the depth of the challenges at the club.
He stressed that his dedication and commitment have been crucial in preventing the club from sinking further.
“When I assumed leadership at the Den, I quickly realized that the problems were more extensive than I had initially anticipated. We were in a deep crisis, and if AFC Leopards didn’t have a chairman deeply passionate about the club, someone willing to put his life on hold to save it, we might not have survived,” Shikanda affirmed.
AFC Leopards, last crowned Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions in 1998, currently occupy the 15th spot in the league standings.
They began their season with a goalless draw against Talanta and subsequently suffered a defeat to KCB, conceding a solitary goal.
