Expect a dangerous Leopards in new KPL season, purring Shikanda warns

Godfrey Ashiali Leopards Writer

AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda is predicting a tougher FKF Premier League next term.

As a result, the former Gor Mahia and Leopards defender says clubs must brace for stiff competition owing to the lucrative deal that FKF signed with a betting company from Nigeria, and whose proceeds will directly go to the 18 clubs in the top division.

With an increased financial purse from their shirt sponsor, also a gaming firm, and the extra token from the federation, Shikanda is bullish in the face of the financial windfall.

In fact, he’s put other teams on notice warning that Leopards will be on the prowl.

But for the record, Shikanda has in the past made similar warnings but it remains to be seen how Anthony Kimani coached Ingwe will fair this time round.

Hear him speak. “The executive committee and I are fully committed to ensure that the league trophy returns to Leopards. Our hawk- eyed scouts are in the market to see which players we can add. We are also looking at those to offload, a few,” he noted.

The measures, Shikanda charges, will help the big cats snatch the gong from old age rivals Gor Mahia.

Ingwe are among the 15 teams that have already received Sh500, 000 from FKF as part of the Sh1.2b league sponsorship to empower clubs in the face of biting Covid-19 pandemic.

The return of betting companies into local football is expected to add steel to the shaky financial lives of the club; however Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano is of the opinion that the coronavirus pandemic has destabilized almost everything in sports hence making it impossible to gauge his players.

This is due to the government’s directive banning social gatherings since March.

“I’m not going to buy any play or offload any because these players are young and full of talent and so I will have to give them the chance to showcase what they possess when the league resumes before making any performance-based judgment,” Matano submitted.