Crisis, what crisis? Leopards coach Jan Koops fires warning shot ahead of new season

AFC Leopards head coach Jan Koops. PHOTO| FILE |

By  ISAAC SWILA

What you need to know:

  • Koops has vowed to take the battle for the league title to champions and title favourites Gor Mahia.
  • Koops has also identified youngsters who can replace members of the squad who left.
  • The Big Cats have not won a league title since 1998.

AFC Leopards coach Jan Koops remains confident his team will effectively challenge for honours when the Kenyan Premier League season begins.

Koops has vowed to take the battle for the league title to champions and title favourites Gor Mahia.

Koops, 73, who is back as AFC Leopards coach for a second time in six years, said he will work with players who are focused and ready to achieve the club’s goals.

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TALENTED YOUNGSTERS

Koops has also identified youngsters who can replace members of the squad who left.

“I don’t look at the names but at the quality. I will only work with players who want to be here, those who want to play for the club.

“We may have lost several players but I believe in team work and not individual effort,” he said yesterday after taking his charges through a morning workout at the Railways Training Institute.

Midfield dynamo Bernard Mang’oli, Musa Mudde, Jackson Saleh, Timonah Wanyonyi and Michael Khamati are among the top talents who have left the club ahead of the new season.

Club committee member, Asava Kadima however believes that the capture of experienced former Thika United striker Kepha Aswani, Jimmy Bageya and Geoffrey Ouma, who has joined from Chemelil Sugar will give the club impetus.

The Big Cats have not won a league title since 1998.

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