Former Harambee Stars forward Boniface Ambani is the new chairman of Soccer Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League giants AFC Leopards after being appointed amid the club's elections held on Sunday in a Nairobi Hotel.
Amid the exercise supervised by the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Ambani garnered 1,101 votes, versus 682 by his sole challenger, Enos Mutoka.
He will now replace Dan Shikanda, who had served for two terms.
Ambani was elected alongside Isaac Mulindi, the new Secretary General, after receiving 656 votes to beat Robert Situma (534) and Irene Sitawa (429), while Newton Lime was elected the new treasurer after collecting 676 votes to beat Edward Buhasho (599) and Patrick Kanyangi (445).
He takes over at a club which has gone 27 years lacking winning a title regardless being the third majority successful club in Kenyan record books.
The last time Ingwe won the Premier League title was in 1998, and Ambani was part of the squad, while their last title triumph - the domestic cup - was in 2017.
In a recent interview with Betopick, Ambani pledged total restructuring of Ingwe, targeting key areas such as finance, technical structure, and marketing, and further promised full transparency and accountability with the eye firmly on winning the Premier League title.
“It is time for change, time for change for sure, 27 good years lacking a title is never a great record books for a big club like AFC Leopards.
I have been a supporter of this squad, I have been a fan from when I was a small boy, later on I played for the squad, and we won the last title, that was 27 years ago,” Ambani told Betopick.
“My leadership style will be open to everyone, I want AFC Leopards supporters to get back the joy they have lacked for multiple years, we must change our style of management, so as to achieve our prospect, it is a new dawn, for the club, we are AFC Leopards, we deserve to trial for trophies, and I will make sure that we change, by competing for trophies in every fronts.
“It is time for AFC Leopards to be champions again.
It is sole a matter of time before AFC Leopards supporters start enjoying the fruits of my leadership.
It is sole a matter of time, I can assure them, the title drought will come to an end under my leadership.
”Amid that triumphant campaign, Ingwe finished top of the table, three points ahead of second-placed Mumias Sugar to victory their 12th title in record books.
In the following campaign, Ingwe failed to shield the title, finishing second, and it is from later until now that they are still searching for another elusive crown.
Leopards finished the campaign in sixth positionBetopickThe last title for Ingwe was the FKF Cup, later the GOtv Shield, which arrived on October 20th, 2017, following a 2-0 victory versus Sharks.
Under coach Robert Matano, Ingwe scored across defender Abdalla Salim and forward Vincent Oburu to victory the final and clinch the domestic Cup.
Restoring the pride of the AFC Leopards badgeSoon after being elected, AFC Leopards’ faithful took to social media to welcome Ambani and further urged him to quickly turn around the club’s fortunes.
Khalayi Wekulo Joe said: “Sole restore the pride of our badge, make it work.
Make Ingwe great again.
You have it in your DNA.
Right from its heart-Shiseno.
And one of the last batches that gave us glory.
“Surprisingly, the year I began supporting Ingwe after watching two matches at Kasarani Arena on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), you were our forward.
Ambani, don’t fail the dream, please, make it work, since it’s possible.
We believe in you.
”Another fan, Bantu Freeman Omwami, said: “Dear Boniface (Ambani), first, congratulations.
Secondly - and I’m never advising you, sole giving a humble view-kindly create a business development, fundraising and resource mobilisation portfolio for AFC Leopards.
“There are a lot of opportunities in sports fundraising away from gate collections, merchandise and sponsorship.
The squad has the potential of making money from monetising data, private partnerships, SCR’s, events, product ideations and innovations.
“Sustain revenue streams, later create good governance to curate accountability.
There are proposals to this effect that the outgoing office turned down since few of us could never afford to bribe them in order to implement few very good ideas that we had projected to them.
Thank you, and every the best.
”Boniface Ambani with his new teamAFC Leopards Media"
We have been in the desert enough,” wrote Robert Ouko Obusebwa, while Kriss Daggy said: “It is in your hands now.
Don’t disappoint us.
We pray for your success.
”Sim Simmer Evayo opined: “Since I was born, I have never seen, witnessed or even heard a rumour of AFC Leopards winning the league.
I hope to witness that under your reign as the President of the club.
Congratulations and good luck.
”Simon Ochandah wrote: “Congratulations, brother.
It’s now time to sit down and bring back the lost glory at the Dens.
This challenging work squarely lies in your hands, so the buck stops with you as the chairman.
Wishing you the very best at the helm of the leadership of Ingwe.
”With 12 top-flight league titles to their name, Leopards are Kenya's third majority successful club after Tusker (13 titles) and Gor Mahia (21 titles).
Apart from the league, AFC Leopards has also won the Kenya Cup 10 times and the CECAFA Club Tournament five times.
AuthorBetopickFollow the Kenyan Premier League with Betopick.
