The abrupt slashing of winning bonuses might have contributed to the recent poor form by AFC Leopards.
This was revealed on Thursday during a closed door meeting between former Ingwe players, normally referred to as Ingwe Legends and the current squad members.
Leopards have lost six of their last eleven league matches, including Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Mount Kenya United at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.
“Our winning allowance was trimmed from Sh7,000 to Sh3,000 this season, nobody has told us why,” a player told the Ingwe greats at Kenya Technical Training College (KTTC) training ground in Gigiri.
“The office has really let us down. No motivation; they don’t visit us in training, nobody is here to encourage us yet the pressure is too much on us from a section of fans who are surprisingly incited by own officials. They don’t even come to the stadium to watch us playing, we feel abandoned!” another player added.
The players also explained that the frequent change of coaches has affected the team. Leopards have already had three coaches this season with Rwandan Casa Mbungo the latest man at the helm.
“There was no meeting with our club management before the season started and we were not given any target before the season started.”
But the veterans who included Mohmoud Abass, Nahashon Bushuru, Maurice Khayota, Ben Musuku, Peter Ouma, Peter Lichungu, George Sunguti, Reginald Asibwa, Dan Shikanda, Boniface Ambani and Washington Khamadi urged the players to show their full commitment in the remaining seven first leg matches as they try to assist the office to improve things.
“We are promising to be very close to you guys after talking to the office. We have proposed for a meeting with the officials and the technical bench after the weekend Mashemeji Derby. If they give us the go ahead we can look for friends to boost your allowances starting next week,” said Shikanda who played for both AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia as a winger.
“You are playing for a big team. In AFC and Gor Mahia it’s a Derby is matter of life and death. You are the face of the team and everybody will be looking at you on Saturday. Don’t cry too much about changing because even Manchester United brought Ole Gunnar abruptly but have gone 10 matches unbeaten, Ingwe is a club where money can follow you.”
Former striker Peter Ouma who was an officials when Leopards won its last league title in 1998 said: “We want to encourage you to do your best. How can Leopards take more than 20 years without winning the league? You are playing for an elite club in Kenya and in the world and remember you have million and millions of fans behind you.”
“We have not come here to quarrel you but to encourage you to work hard for better results after losing three matches consecutively,” former international defender, Sunguti told the players.
“The state of affairs revolving performance has brought us here to talk to you. Let the weekend game be an immediate solution. Remember officials are not permanent, but some of you can play for this club for more than 10 years. Age is on your side,” said Asibwa, a former no nonsense defender.
Ex international striker, Ambani currently coaching AFC Leopards Cubs believes the team can still mount late title challenge. “Remember recent Arsenal was ahead of Manchester United by many points, but now the gap is very close. We are not putting any pressure on you to beat Gor Mahia on Saturday, but fans are looking at you. Even Gor Mahia fans are not happy when they see us struggling because the rivalry is dying.”
“The to team is leading with 24 points and you have 10. You can still win the league. The Mashemeji Derby is the easiest game this season. Have confidence and you will win on Saturday, said Khamadi. Musuku challenged the striker to score goals.”