‘Unsettled’ Juma quits AFC Leopards for rivals Homeboyz

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) transfer window may have long been shut but Kakamega Homeboyz have on Tuesday completed their latest ‘signing’.

The club announced they have reached a deal with Isaac Juma, the self-proclaimed number one local football fan who has in the past few months grown increasingly ‘unsettled’ at rival club AFC Leopards.

A one-man cheer squad, Juma who is popular for his high energy dance moves has been an Ingwe supporter since 1980 but said he had increasingly felt sidelined despite his status as a ‘senior fan’.

“I have given my everything for the love of AFC Leopards but for a very long time my life has remained static,” Juma told Citizen Digital.

Homeboyz Chairman Cleophas Shimanyula confirmed the development, adding Juma will also be among three hundred workers helping the club in various capacities with a Ksh15,000 monthly salary package attached to the deal.

“Its true we have brought him on board and so its time to work. We have adopted him knowing very well that he will help us,” Shimanyula affirmed.

Juma admitted to having mixed emotions over the move and said he will feel ‘lost’ when the two clubs who command a huge fan base in Western Kenya lock horns for their derby.

“My blood still reads AFC Leopards but now I will just be going to attend Homeboyz fixtures like any other employed person. I even don’t know how I will behave the day Homeboyz will meet Leopards,”Juma wondered.

His sour relationship with the Leopards management reached breaking point after losing his wife last month at the St Mary’s Hospital Mumias, when he says he was ignored despite constant pleas for support from the club.

“I tried to call Chairman Dan Mule and the Organising Secretary Timothy Lilumbi but they did not answer my calls. The impression I got is if they don’t care about a senior fan at the Den then they don’t value their supporters,” Juma stated.

Leopards Secretary General Oscar Igaida was unbothered by the report as he maintained Juma was at will to support any club of his choice.

“We’re in a democratic world and don’t force fans into supporting us but Juma must recognize Ingwe is part of his DNA. Last season we faced a financial crisis and so any issue to do with money should not be used as an excuse for him turn his back on us,” Igaida stated.

Juma has hit the ground running at Homeboyz, rocking the crowd at Chemelil as his visiting side were held to a barren draw by Chemelil Sugar.