Kasavuli resigns as Leopards boss

AFC Leopards’s troubles took a new turn Wednesday when their two-year long serving chairman Allan Kasavuli announced that he was stepping down to pave way for a caretaker committee to take over the management of the club.

This development was however quickly challenged by other members of the executive committee, who were elected into office with Kasavuli in 2013.

Addressing reporters at the team’s training base at the Kenya Technical Teachers College in Gigiri, Nairobi yesterday, Kasavuli said that he had been overwhelmed by the challenge of leading Leopards and was stepping down to give  a 12-member caretaker committee a chance to run the club.

The caretaker committee will be chaired by Nairobi businessman and one-time club treasurer Amin Walji while former club chairman, who is the Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Ale Ole Magelo, will be the patron.

“Having steered this great club for the last two years of my three year mandate, I hereby step down in order to endorse the establishment of a caretaker committee to take the mantle for a periods of six months pending comprehensive elections.

“My action, and after deliberations with the secretary general (George Aladwa), has been prompted by compelling personal matters and other ambitions that I have to attend to, giving me little time to concentrate on the running of the club.

“Also, I will be sincere to cite the club’s experiencing of financial difficulties after the abrupt  pulling  out of Mumias Sugar as our shirt  sponsor,” he said .

Other members of the committee are Martin Andati, Duncan Angode, Maggie Macniven, Charles ‘Shirandula’ Bukeko, Linet Mirehani, Maurice Amahwa, Lincoln Amwayi, Joseph Nyongesa and former Kenya internationals, Josephat Murila and George Sunguti.

The team also comprises two elders namely COTU boss Francis Atwoli and Webuye East MP Alfred Sambu while Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi, was listed as a trustee.

Walji said that his first priority would be to streamline the club’s operations and lure sponsors.

“I have not come here to make money. God has been kind enough and given me some. My aim is to make the club operational. To be financially sound and give it what it deserves.”

RUN INTO PROBLEMS

However the formation of this body could run into problems.

Cub deputy secretary general Asava Adima said that the right procedure needed to be followed and it was only a Special General Meeting (SGM) that  could make such a decision.

“No, I haven’t resigned. I think the only resignation we have received is that of Allan Kasavuli. We are discussing and we will see the way forward.

“About the formation of a caretaker committee; I’m not aware of it. The club has to continue. They (caretaker committee) have no mandate at all. When we need a caretaker committee we will call an SGM to ratify. We have to follow the club constitution and not jump to euphoria,” he said.

Asked whether he felt the new development stemmed from executive committee’s failure to live up to their mandate and responsibility, he said: “The chairman has been absent, but other members like myself and (Timothy) Lilumbi have been there all through with the playing unit and I would defend them for that.

“Allan should take individual responsibility and not drag the executive in,” he charged.

Lilumbi on the hand said: “I have been informed of the developments, but I want to categorically state that I have not resigned and I’m not going to resign.”

The tough stance by the duo means that the newly formed body could soon run into leadership problems including possible court battles.
Lilumbi added: “It’s true we may have failed in some sectors, but we were hit hard by Mumias’ withdrawal. We have been paying allowances and it’s just salaries that are yet to be paid, but you don’t expect any official or myself for that matter to dig into my pocket and pay the players’ salaries amounting to Sh2.5milion.”