AFC Leopards have come out to explain why key players Eugene Mukangula and Peter Thiong’o were stripped of their captaincy roles for the FKF Premier League outfit.
On Wednesday, Ingwe confirmed on their social media accounts they had punished the two players and this comes three days after they had suffered a 2-1 defeat against the already relegated Vihiga Bullets in a league fixture at Mumias Complex.
“We have been forced to take these drastic steps because the named players instigated a go slow [senior players skipped training] which eventually led to the team’s 2-1 defeat away to Vihiga,” said Ingwe chairman Dan Shikanda.
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“It is all about insubordination, they knew what they were doing was wrong but instead proceeded to skip training and this gave our coach a very difficult time to prepare the team, a new captain will be named in due course.”
Shikanda added: “A change is as good as a rest, it was long overdue to make changes in the leadership of the team and the coaches will now give us the way forward, what I know is that we will have a new captain and his deputy before the next match.”
Asked if the duo will be available to play before the season ends, Shikanda said: “Of course, they are available for selection but it will also depend on what the coach wants and if they want to play or not, it is upon them to decide.”
Mukangula has been one of the key players since moving to the Den from Thika United while Thiong’o arrived from Kakamega Homeboyz, in the transfer which hit the headlines after the latter’s chairman Cleophas Shimanyula had refused to allow the player leave for AFC.
Ingwe, who are set for another trophyless campaign as they are sitting seventh on the table with 48 points, will next return to action against Sofapaka on June 21 before winding up the season with a fixture against Kariobangi Sharks on June 24.