This Leopards side has the fangs to bite

After a tumultuous 2018 campaign, a season most Ingwe fans would rather forget, a more lethal looking AFC Leopards is looking forward to some real menacing prowls this term.

We witnessed a few departures, but they were immediately replaced by truly exciting prospects. I thank the office for keeping the youngsters at the Den for the long haul!

For the first time in many years, AFC Leopards had enough time to prepare for a new season — the 2018/19 campaign, that kicked off on Saturday.

They glimpses of greatness they showed after playing a number of competitive games gives any diehard Leopards fan a glimmer of hope that good times are on the way.

Yes, it is a work in progress, but we are certainly going to get only better, and better.

Though still in the market for another quality striker, the inclusion of Zimbabwean Michele Katsavairo in the preseason planning will make Ingwe extremely dangerous throughout the season.

Katsavairo, signed from Singida United of Tanzania after his loan deal from South African giants Kaizer Chiefs lapsed, has been on target in all the build-up matches he has played for AFC Leopards.

I have heard that Gor Mahia fans are already shaking in fear knowing the predatory instincts of this exciting southern African import.

I can only tell those noisy Green Army followers this: The leopard is getting hungry, and it wants to eat. After all, there is a saying that goes like this, a hungry man is an angry man”. And a Leopard too.

The 28-year-old Zimbabwean is also good with dead ball deliveries which will boost the scoring fortunes of the side that has been heavily reliant on Ezekiel Odera.

Left-back Isaac Kipyegon has impressed the technical bench in the friendly matches that we convincingly won against Ulinzi Stars (2-1), Posta Rangers (2-1), KCB (2-0) before drawing 1-1 with Wazito.

The defender recently signed from Zoo Kericho, grabbed a brace in the win against Ulinzi and has shown he is a multidimensional player.

The only reliable players we lost are striker Alex Orotomal and Duncan Otieno who joined St Georges of Ethiopia and Zambian Nkana FC respectively.

Kipyegon, Dennis Sikhayi, Oduro and Robinson Kamura have proved they are worthy of superstars status in Ingwe’s backline.

The new coach Nikola Kavazovic, who is currently in his Croatian home land on compassionate leave, has changed Ingwe’s way of playing with Said Tsuma, Edward Seda operating in the midfield that also has Whyvonne Isuza while Eugene Mukangula and Jaffery Owiti plays on the flanks.

His long-time assistant coach Marko Vasiljevic arrived in Nairobi on Saturday and was quickly unveiled before taking charge in the absence of Kavazovic, who is expected back later this month.

The Serbian duo has introduced several changes in the team since replacing Argentine Rodolfo Zapata, including switching Isaac Oduro from left back to central defence.

Today, Oduro can now effectively play any position in defence, making him perhaps the most versatile player in Ingwe’s roster.

Nikola also convinced the management to splash out close to Sh300,000 on new training equipment, revealing his training acumen.

And while at it, two senior players — including a central defender- are casualties of the coach’s fast inter-passing style of play where the ball has to ‘kiss’ the grass.

With everything at our disposal, the technical bench needs to stay focused and strive to win the league trophy we last won in 1998.

No sane Ingwe follower enjoys seeing a team like Gor Mahia stretch their title winning streak to a lucky 17 times.

It is time the trophy went to were it belongs — the Leopards lair.