As the date for Ingwe elections gets near, action both on and off the pitch have reached a boiling point. Buoyed by their 3:1 win against Bidco at the Dandora stadium on Saturday, Sunday witnessed a beer hive of activities as AFC Leopards engaged different aspirants who have shown interest in serving the club.
A way from the past where campaigns were only restricted to just a month before elections, this year’s elections will be quite different thanks to the constitutional amendment that states that a general election shall be held 90 days after the club’s A.G.M. Having held the AGM in March, June will be the club’s election month.
Enos Vincent Mutoka. Enos Mutoka one of the three guys who have declared interest in serving as the next club president had a busy weekend on the campaign trail. First he attended a member’s burial in Kakamega, graced the burial of former FKF/KFF Secretary Sammy Obingo in Mumias before flying back to the city to hit the campaign trail.
Enos engaged Ingwe faithfuls in different branches in Kawangware and Kibra areas where he made his manifesto clear.
Rediscovering our lost glory.
Under the banner of rediscovering our lost glory, Enos was disturbed that 27 years have lapsed ever since Leopards lifted the league trophy.
“I was still a student when Ingwe last won the league. 27 years down the line Ingwe is a pale shadow of it’s former self. This club was feared both locally and regionally, we must bring an end to this trophy drought. IAM ready, able and willing to change this and bring back the good old days” Enos said.
To achieve this, Enos proposes to put in place quality, Technical bench, quality playing unit with conducive environment for success on the pitch.
To achieve this, Enos did not fail to acknowledge the financial implications that come with this hence his second pillar of Financial sustainability.
Financial sustainability. “There is no running away from the fact that money is an integral part for the success of our team, to have a fierce and title conquering leopard, we need cash and as your chairman, I have identified revenue streams which will keep the club afloat”
Sponsorship. Talking about sponsorship, Enos boasts of having a broad network that is ready and willing to pump in money. “When I say I will have multiple sponsors on board, I mean it, my history is clear, I sourced for BETIKA to come and sponsor AFC and we are reaping the fruits from BETIKA sponsorship. I have the confidence of several would be sponsors thanks to my well established networks” added Mutoka.
Merchandise On club merchandise, Enos proposes quality and affordable club merchandise.
“Merchandise for along time has been misconstrued to mean only jersies, under my leadership, we shall have hoods, caps, track suits jackets, kids wear. These will be of good quality and at a friendly price and procured on time every season. We shall also practice market segmentation so that those at the tail end of the income chain can also afford our merchandise” continues Mutoka.
Inclusive leadership. An inclusive leadership is key to growth. Enos proposes to have all stakeholders actively engaged in matters of the club with branches playing a central role in the growth of the club.
Infrastructure development
Enos believes that in the current ever changing sporting world, AFC Leopards should move with time and have a state of the art infrastructure that suits a club as old as AFC.
“It is a shame that 61 years down the line we still pay 14000ksh per 3 hours for our team to train. Under my leadership we shall set a timeline of two years where plans for a training grounds owned by AFC, a gym and a club house shall start in earnest. This will reduce the cost of hiring training facility and help our club to have ample time for training. Three hours is such a little time for training if indeed we want to challenge the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Zamalek of Egypt” Enos
Branches. Support branches to realize growth and reap the benefits of belonging to AFC. Branches to be granted first priority in selling club merchandise
While speaking at Kawangware 56 branch one of the branches that is key in determining the next chairman, Enos said that his past political engagement won’t hinder service delivery to the club. This was after members challenged him to state his political inclinations in relation to past political engagements in Kakamega county.
“Yes, it is true I vied for Member of county assembly for Bukura Ward in Kakamega county. I narrowly lost the seat which I believe would have gone in my favour. The fact that I have interest in serving as MCA in Kakamega county should be a plus because my presence at the county level will render credence to my name and to that of AFC Leopards which will open other many doors for our club. I still hold that there is nothing wrong in having political interests as I serve a club I love most” responded Enos.
Enos further promised to re establish partnership with schools in the soccer rich counties in Western Kenya to help supply Ingwe with row talent.
The aspiring candidate also promised to ensure the youths team and ladies team remain active and part and parcel of the larger Ingwe family.
To become the next AFC leopards boss, Enos will have former club player and coach Bonface Ambani and former club CeO Ronald Namai to contend with on the ballot.
Will Mutoka actualize his dream of returning the club to it’s winning ways? Will the over 4000 eligible club voters entrust him with the mantle?
