Leopards Rupia delighted as football return looms

AFC Leopards top scorer Elvis ‘Machapo’ Rupia says he is ready to return back to “normal life” – playing football – after the government lifted the ban on sports.

The FKF-Premier League golden boot contender (10 goals) – three behind top scorer Eric Kapaito – has submitted that Saturday’s announcement by President Uhuru Kenyatta to lift the ban on sports was what players have been eagerly waiting for.

“Yes, we were really waiting to hear such news of football resumption so that we may be back to our normal life of playing soccer.

It is very encouraging for everybody to be back on the pitch and as per our target, we have to put in more effort to be able to finish on top of the league this season,” Rupia said.

The Kenyan international is also targeting to finish top on the scorers charts this season and this he says will require him to work extra hard to attain since there is stiff competition from the likes of KCB’s Eric Kapaito and Tusker’s Henry Mejja.

According to him, Ingwe’s aim to win this year’s trophy means he must put in a lot of effort and focus.

Rupia has been doing individual training at home even as sports had been banned. This he says is meant to keep him on toes in the event they return on the pitch.

“Putting in a lot of hard work and staying focused will depend on what teams want to achieve and so this has no negotiation but to do our best with no destruction from any corner,” Rupia concluded.

Leopards are placed third on the log, seven points behind leaders Tusker and could cut the gap to only a point if they win their two games in hand.

After 14 matches, Ingwe have won nine, drawn two and lost three with 18 goals to their name.