Shame as Leopards players paid Sh500 after Sh4.6m fundraiser
Deputy President William with Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka (Left), AFC Leopards Patron Cyrus Jirongo (2nd left) Vihiga County Governor Moses Akaranga and Cabinet Secretary for water Eugene Wamalwa (Centre ) during a funds raiser in aid of AFC Leopards Football club held at KICC, Nairobi on October 1, 2015. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- It is even worse and shameful that players are yet to be paid four days after a fundraiser presided over by Deputy President William Ruto in which Sh4.5 million was raised.
- During the fundraiser held last Thursday at the KICC, Mr Ruto gave a personal donation of Sh2million whereas President Uhuru Kenyatta sent Sh1 million.
- However, since the monies were raised, the officials from the opposing camps have been locked in a war of words even as players continue to suffer.
The leadership wrangles at Kenyan Premier League giants AFC Leopards are fast turning into a national shame.
It is even worse and shameful that players are yet to be paid four days after a fundraiser presided over by Deputy President William Ruto in which Sh4.5 million was raised.
During the fundraiser held last Thursday at the KICC, Mr Ruto gave a personal donation of Sh2million whereas President Uhuru Kenyatta sent Sh1 million.
However, since the monies were raised, the officials from the opposing camps have been locked in a war of words even as players continue to suffer.
On Monday, Mathew Opwora, who leads a faction that has received the backing from the Ministry of Sports and the federation cried foul after they were blocked from accessing the account they had opened and deposited the proceeds from the fundraiser, pointing an accusing finger to the Dan Mule led faction.
“We were meant to pay the players on Saturday but the other team blocked the account we had opened at First Community Bank. Through an advocate, they wrote to the bank to stop payment. We are talking to the bank to see the way forward,” Opwora said.
“The aim of paying the players through the bank is to ensure that everything is done in an orderly manner and records kept .We do not want anything fishy, Opwora said.
“It’s however sad that the other wing does not see sense,” he added.
He went on: “I feel sad because the fundraiser was my own initiative and I don’t see why they should block players’ pay. Mule (Dan) has joined camp with the likes of Adima Asava and Onyino (Walter) to frustrate us. Its players who are hurting. They have to pay rent, we also have to pay for training ground.”
However, in a quick rejoinder, Mule, who has been leading the office after Onyino (chairman) and Asava (secretary general) resigned in a huff, rubbished the claims maintaining that Opwora and his group are being insincere.
“I think Opwora and his group is just playing blame games. The amount collected was Sh4.5 million yet they deposited Sh4.1 million. Where did the rest go to? He didn’t organise the fundraiser alone. I used my personal resources to book the hall and I’ve not been refunded,” Mule shot back.
Asava, on the other hand said that Opwora need to respect the rule of law.
“They have broken the law because they are not club officials .They should have deposited the money in the right club account at Equity bank,” he said.
“Besides, there is a case in court which is due for determination on October 20 so he should be careful because what he does may be in contempt of court.”
Even as they continue with their fight, the playing unit were on Saturday left heartbroken after they were each given a paltry Sh500 as bus fare.
