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Erick Ludeya
AFC Leopards is living up to its promise to revitalise and promote the Club’s image,with the club set to host its first-ever event to recognise,fans,players and branches.
The club’s chairman Dan Shikanda has expressed his excitement ahead of the mega event slated for Wednesday, August 21 2024 in Nairobi
Al these has been organised by the U45 Unit Branch and players who uniquely stood out last will awarded.To spice up things within its fan bases and branches,fans with unmatched commitment will be awarded and most loyal branches also set for special recognition.
The awards will focus on the 2023/24 ahead of the 2024/25,coming two days before the club’s season opener against promoted Mathare United.
The 1998 KPL Champions will be looking forward for successful season with the awards gala poised to be the stepping stone for the players,staff,fans and branches.
Shikanda believes that next season will not be a campaign in vein.
“If there’s one word that continues to define this club, it’s resilience,” Shikanda noted during a press briefing a week before the awards.
“We all know the challenges we faced during the early stages of the season, but the fans never gave up and the players responded. It’s only fair that we organize this event to celebrate everyone who makes this club unique,’’ he added.
The awards ceremony will feature five distinct categories, each designed to acknowledge the diverse contributions within the club. They include Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season, Fans’ Player of the Season, Fan of the Year and Branch of the Year, the latter recognizing the branch that has shown exceptional commitment to supporting the club.
Alex Muteshi, the club’s Patron, emphasized the event’s broader significance, stating: “This gala is more than a celebration of our club’s rich legacy and the incredible efforts of those who make AFC Leopards what it is,”
For the love of Isukuti,those who play it got a special mention.
“I am especially pleased to see a category for rewarding our fans. Every club can play football, but not every fan can play Isikuti the Leopards way.”
Olympia Musonye, Chairperson of the U45
Among the players who will be contesting for the top honours include the talented Kayci Odhiambo, Vincent Mahiga, evergreen winger Clifton Miheso and forward Victor Omune.
The Branch of the Year category has attracted dozens of entries representing the national face of the club. They include Baba Dogo, Bungoma, Githurai, Kajaido, Kawangware, Toronto-Canada, Facebook Branch, Kitengela, Kayole among others.
The awards gala night will be held just two days before Ingwe kick off their 2024-25 Kenyan Premier League season away to promoted side Mathare United on August 25.
The U45 Unit branch was established in the year 2024, inspired by the 60-year history of AFC Leopards and the rich history of its loyal fan base. U45 Unit was established to embrace fans across the location divide as well as the tribe divide to accommodate fans beyond the traditional AFC fan base largely derived from the Luhya community.
This mandate was meant to not only bring-in the non-Luhya, non-location affiliated fan base onboard the AFC Leopard ship, but to also make them feel at home and extend the club’s support to higher/wider reach with the same spirit and comfort as fans from the traditional fan base in other branches.
