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Nairobi , February 14th 2025.
On 12th March 1964, a new soccer team was born out of the amalgamation of several Luhya teams. This team waseq t to be fierce and fearless hence the name Abaluhya Football club with a Leopard as it’s symbol.
This is a team that all those who belong to the Luhya tribe domiciled in Western Kenya pledge their loyalty to.
Robert Situma aka Omusawa Nanyende Original being a Luhya grew up worshiping this team.
“My love for Ingwe was something that happened to me by default, just like majority of my Luhya brothers and sisters, AFC leopards is our sole heritage and we are so proud of it. I personally don’t support any other team in the world and will never pledge my allegiance to any other. Ingwe and I will do this untill death separate us.
Robert Situma.
Growing up on the late 80s and early 90s, VoK and KBC idhaa ya Kiswahili were the only links between Leopards and I. I remember vividly how we used to gather around every evening just to listen to Leonard Mambo Mbotela commentaries. He would mesmerized us with how he was broadcasting and whenever an Ingwe player was on the ball, he would send us all on our feet. Sounds of Kadenge na mpira, kwake Tony Lidonde etc etc would make our evening. From then I have never looked back in my support for AFC leopards.
Leopards needs a paradigm shift on how it is transacting it’s business.~Situma.
Mr Situma himself a career civil servant of high standing in the Human Resource sector believes that AFC leopards can be re- modelled to fit on the current standards of soccer administration.
“The last time AFC leopards won the KPL league was way back in 1998. We don’t have a better explanation to why we have not won it over 25 years later. I remember with nostalgia how happy we were when the likes of Bonface Ambani, Fred Ambani and Captain Oduor lifted the trophy. We must bring back those joyous moments.
Situma who has indicated his willingness to offer himself for election for the position of club Secretary General in the forthcoming club elections slated for June this year believes he has what it takes to help turn around the club fortunes.
Speaking to www.goodmorninkenya.com Mr Situma envisions a lib that is well grounded , a secretariat that puts the right policies in place not only to win trophies but to generate revenue for self reliance.
“The campaigns have not yet started but very briefly, I see a club anchored on these key pillars, managerial, commercial, communal and youth development pillars. These 4 pillars will inform where the club intends to go. I will delve on them further as I seek the mandate from our members”
Robert Situma
On player recruitment….
Situma bemourns the departure from our culture where Ingwe used to scout for young talents right from schools.
“When Ingwe was Ingwe, we used to scout for talents and the never used to dissappoint. We scouted Martin Imbalambala, Edwin Wafula and Bernard Mang’oli right from school, we all know the amount of work and dedication they offered at the den. Under my watch, I will help put in place a proper player recruitment regime that will propel Ingwe back to its golden days.
Situma believes AFC is a sleeping giant that can be re awakened so that it’s claws can still claw.
“Take our club merchandise for example, if we can harness this resource properly and not only focus on club jersies alone we can make lots of money to enable us compete for the best players on the continent with the likes of Yanga or Simba. Ingwe used to beat the likes of Mlandege FC of Zanzibar, ApR of Rwanda and KCC of Uganda. We can still do it but we must focus.
Apart from Robert Situma, others who have shown intentions of contesting for the post of SG include Martin Were, Sheriff Jere, Isaac Mulindi and former DSG Asava Kadima.
AFC leopards heads into elections in June where Dr Dan Shikanda will be retiring after serving his two terms as club chairman
