Leopards need a scouting committee- Ambani

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) giants AFC Leopards need to form a scouting committee charged with ensuring quality players sign for the club in this and future transfer windows.

This is according to club legend, Boniface Ambani, who slammed the current system at The Den that has seen a high turnover of players in recent times.

The 1998 league winner and Leopards Under 20 coach also condemned the practise where officials force the coach to take in players for personal gain.

“The coach must have all the freedom to sign players of his choice instead of being forced to sign every Tom, Dick and Harry. I looked at the players who were signed before the league started and wondered if they will click,” Ambani asserted.

“I praised the team for a superb start but had reservations with their staying power since a league is like a marathon. They signed players that I knew that they cannot make it,” the former top scorer added.

Ingwe have had a difficult first leg of the season after dropping from top of the KPL to the 11th with 17, 12 points behind leaders Tusker FC.

Ambani urged Leopards to emulate the scouting system in place at their archrivals and champions, Gor Mahia that has seen K’Ogalo sign talent that has won them three titles in a row and a record 15 in total.

Ugandans Dan Sserunkuma, Godfrey Walusimbi and Khalid Aucho, former Rwandese international, Meddi Kagere as well as Amavubi Stars captain, Jacques Tuyisenge in addition to Harambee Stars lethal striker Michael Olunga who is now playing for Djurgaden IF of Sweden are among star players who have helped Gor keep the title for three years.

Ambani urged to Ingwe head coach; Ivan Minnaert to sign a good goal keeper, two central defenders, a holding mid-fielder and one or two dependable goal poachers in the June transfer window.

In his heyday, he formed a fearsome striking duo with elder brother, Fred Ambani that propelled Leopards to their last crown in 1998 before the pair moving to Oserian Fastac in 2000 where they won two more league titles. He returned to Kenya with Tusker after stints in Oman where he top scored with 26 goals four seasons later.

“For now if we say that we are going for a Premier League trophy this season we will be cheating ourselves. Gor is the team to watch this season and they might clinch the trophy at the expense of Leopards,” the former Tanzania giants; Yanga SC striker stressed.

Minnaert revealed he has already forwarded the list of players he wants to sign.

“I have identified a lot of players and now the back load rests on the executive to ensure that things move as they should,” he disclosed.

The Belgian has sent 17 players packing for under performance as the 13- time champions seek a trophy in the second half of the season.

Report by Godfrey Ashiali