AFC promises to clear player salaries, bonuses arrears Wednesday

Financially struggling AFC Leopards have made a pledge to have the playing unit’s August salary arrears settled by Wednesday.

The club’s deputy secretary-general, Prof Asava  Kadima, attributed the delay to “difficulties beyond our means” but was quick to add that it will be settled by today.
“We have not had an issue with the sponsors; it is just the cash flow problem,” he told Daily Nation Sport Tuesday.

When asked what occasioned the delay, Kadima said: “It is a subject I would not want to talk much about; we and the sponsor will work on it.”

MUMIAS SUGAR

Team sponsors Mumias Sugar Company have been undergoing lean financial times, a situation that could have contributed to the delay.

The club also owes the playing unit winning bonuses for recent matches. Adima said the players were owed an average of Sh12,000 each from a win and a draw.

“It is the responsibility of the office to pay winning bonus but we don’t have a time frame through which it will be settled, but we will pay it when we can,” he said. “The players are aware of the situation. We briefed them before they travelled to Kisumu [for the Western Stima game].”

However, a senior Leopards player who did not wish to be named disputed the figures given by the club official, saying each player was owed two wins and two draws.

“I find it hypocritical that an official would lie about the money owed to us,” said the player, who put the figure at Sh16,500.