Nairobi,Kenya: AFC Leopards coach Luc Eymael was left stunned after his side went down 2-1 against Nairobi City Stars at City Stadium on Sunday.
AFC Leopards Chairman Alex Ole Magelo
The result was the final straw on Leopards Chairman Alex Ole Magelo, who has announced his intention to step down in June when his term expires. Magelo said yesterday he is not interested in defending his post due to ‘unavoidable circumstances’.
“I will not be defending my seat and in the next 21 days I will issue a notice for the process to elect a new chairman to start,” he said.
“It is just too much. I cannot take it anymore. There are people bent on sabotaging the club,” he said.
Magelo has been chairman of the club for the last two years. Under his leadership, the club did not win any silverware. His announcement will not adulterate the impact of Leopards poor form this season.
“It is unbelievable that we lost this match but then again that is what happens when you don’t take your chances,” said Eymael.
“Today we had three big opportunities to finish off the match but we failed to do it. I think my players thought they had won the game after scoring the first goal and settled to play with the same rhythm as our opponents.”
Inspiring result
His City Stars counterpart Bye Wadda was a happy man pointing out that his side had needed a big result to lift up their spirits after a bad run in the league.
“We still need to work hard on defending set-pieces but all the same we are glad that we came off with the victory. We needed a big result and we got it now it puts us in a good position,” he said.
Wadda also paid glowing tribute to his striker Jimmy Bagaye, who just six months ago was at AFC Leopards, but took issue with the Ugandan for ‘overdoing it’ against his former club.
“Bagaye has the potential to become one of the best strikers this season. However, against Leopards he overdid it. That hurt our game a bit. However, it looks like he wanted to prove himself against his former club and we can understand that,” said the Gambian.
Defenders shine
Elsewhere, KPL defenders are fast rising up to fill up for the goal drought being experienced in the competition.
Last weekend at least two defenders scored for their sides perhaps proof to coaches of options they have at the back.
AFC Leopards is one side that is benefitting greatly from scoring defenders and it happed again during their match against Nairobi City Stars when Jonas Nahimana rose high to head home the opener for his side in the seventh minute.
Though Leopards eventually lost the match 2-1, they will be grateful to the Rwandese international for putting them ahead as it allowed them to dominate the early proceedings of the fixture.
Two weeks ago against Tusker, another Leopards defender Anthony Kimani saved the team blushes with a powerful header in the 80th minute enabling his side to pick a point against the defending champions at City Stadium.
Another side that is benefitting from the good form of their back line is Tusker. Towering defender Joseph Shikokoti scored for the brewers in their 1-0 win overNairobi City Stars in midweek. City Stars Ugandan import Joel Sebuliba was another defender who was on target at the weekend.
By Gilbert Wandera, The Standard
