AFC Leopards assistant head coach Tom Juma has called on the club’s top hierarchy to use the coming transfer window to beef up their squad in a bid to help the FKF Premier League giants end their trophy drought.
Ingwe’s frustrating season continued on Wednesday after they lost 2-1 against Sofapaka in a mid-week league fixture at Nyayo Stadium. The defeat was the eleventh of the campaign for Ingwe, who will end the current season without silverware.
While AFC Leopards were out of the running to win this season’s league in the first round, the closest they came to clinch a trophy was reaching the semi-finals of the Mozzart Bet FKF Cup where they lost 2-1 against Kakamega Homeboyz.
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“It is embarrassing for AFC Leopards to end the season without a trophy, it is a wasted season, to say the least, at AFC we play to fight and challenge for titles, and ending the season without a trophy is a big shame, and something urgent must be done before the new season begins,” said Juma.
Ingwe last won the league title in 1998 and pressed to explain what needs to be done to bring success back at the Den, the ex-international said: “AFC must use the coming transfer window to recruit heavily, we have been using the same type of players for the last two seasons, we have not changed our squad, we are always depending on the same players for positive results, this must change, we need a fresh squad with experienced legs.”
Juma further explained areas that must be beefed up at Ingwe: “We have to look at all departments, it is not just one area, we need to freshen up from goalkeeping area all through to the striking force,” he said, adding: “If AFC wants to succeed, then the top officials must be ready to spend and bring in new players. I don’t think we have any other ways to solve the current crisis [of not winning trophies].”
The fixture against Batato ba Mungu, saw AFC Leopards miss the services of their coach Patrick Aussems as Juma took charge. Asked about the absence of the Belgian tactician, Juma said: “Our coach is not around, Aussems travelled back home to [Belgium] for personal reasons, actually for medical reasons hence he was not available to lead the team, nothing much.”
AFC are currently lying in position eight of the 18-team table with 48 points from 33 matches. They have managed 13 wins and nine draws. Ingwe will conclude their season with an away game against Kariobangi Sharks at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.