Leopards luring ‘expensive’ Aussems, Ochan to stay

AFC Leopards are in advanced contract talks with their head coach Patrick Aussems to extend his stay at the Ingwe’s den.

On Saturday, the Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda disclosed that they have offered him a two-year contract that would tie down the Belgian until 2023.

However, the only hurdle that the 12-time Kenyan Premier League champions are facing is to meet Aussems’ asking fee with Shikanda calling upon well-wishers to boost them financially.

“We are talking with him and as per now we have managed a three-quarters progress, as you know anything good you have you need to invest in it. It is a two-year contract extension offer which we have tabled for his consideration. We therefore ask anyone who loves this club to kindly come forward and assist us in paying top players,” Shikanda said.

Aussems is willing to stay and he recently asked the executive to quickly put straight the list of players he will remain with to start preparing for next season with a number of them being linked to a move elsewhere.

Leopards are also sweating over first choice goalkeeper Ugandan Benjamin Ochan whose contract is almost running out, with Shikanda disclosing a number of players have huge contract extension demands that could be difficult to meet.

“His (Ochan) contract expired and as you know signing a new contract means a good offer. Definitely if our offer won’t lure him to stay then that will means he will join another club. We have offered a number of other players new contracts and similarly, we need money to keep some of these top players,” Shikanda submitted.

Leopards are placed in position three on 44 points, 11 behind leaders Tusker FC in the FKF-PL.