Cutting back on Leopards’ squad bad idea
What you need to know:
- AFC Leopards management should have an idea of what they want for the team to perform better next year.
- The five players they want to sign should be good enough to start matches for the team to end a situation where some players will only make five to 10 appearance per season.
- I am not saying that all need to be of equal ability.
- While signing, the club should consider bringing on board at least two quality utility players.
As we embark on our journey to next season’s league, it is fundamental to our goals that we get everything right.
Club Secretary, Oscar Igaida confirmed that the team will axe 11 players and sign five in what he referred to as “structures for new season”.
But I disagree with plans to trim the squad from 31 to 25 players for the new season scheduled to start on December 8.
Of course, 25 so happens to be the limit for a Premier League squad but I settle on 30 players because a bigger squad size has some worthwhile benefits as the coach has more options in case of injuries and form drop.
I hope our club cartels that have developed a career in hiring and firing coaches are not planning to start cashing on the situation.
Squad management is very critical to any club, but let us not forget that Ingwe struggled especially in the second leg of the SportPesa Premier League because of injuries forcing the coach to turn to fringe players.
At some point the team missed about eight key players and had to rely on players who, quite honestly, were, at best, second string material.
It is good for a coach when he has his first choice players at his disposal.
When we had our full squad, the team remained in position two and was delivering good results, but things changed when injuries came knocking.
It is not easy to play without your key players, it affects the team and that is what made Ingwe finish outside the top three.
We kept on losing to K’Ogalo because we played them minus some key players.
Ingwe players currently on injury list are Jairus Adira, Moses Mburu, Isaac Oduro, Dennis Sikhayi, Vincent Oburu, Jaffery Owiti and Robinson Kamura and Prince Arkoh.
All the teams in the league have had injuries to their dependable players including right back Karim Nizigirimana and Godfrey Walusimbi of Gor Mahia, who has since joined South African club Kaizer Chiefs.
Nearly all teams including Gor Mahia, Tusker, Nzoia, Sony Mathare, Kariobangi Sharks and Sofapaka have stabilized their squads except AFC Leopards and Chemelil Sugar.
AFC Leopards management should have an idea of what they want for the team to perform better next year.
The five players they want to sign should be good enough to start matches for the team to end a situation where some players will only make five to 10 appearance per season.
I am not saying that all need to be of equal ability.
While signing, the club should consider bringing on board at least two quality utility players.
I would like to see wingers in the team who are capable of playing central attacking midfield; defensive midfielders who can effortlessly drop back to central defence, and full backs who can climb up and drop as seamlessly as a spinning wheel.
Having players who are versatile means you might have two or three backup per position.
Leopards should hang on to their young stars or send them out on loan.
The likes of Ezekiel Owade, Mburu, Sikhayi, Michael Kibwage, Victor Mavisi, Clyde Senaji, Owiti, Marvin Nabwire with an average age of 22, should be given more time to stake their claim in this great club, that is in fact the oldest club in the league.
Leopards young stars have started showing some confidence and will soon be great players. Leopards will be very aggressive soon. Many a team will be feeling the wrath of hungry and angry Leopards, if we do the right thing.
