Welcome Zapata, your work at AFC is cut out for you

What you need to know:

  • Fans should give our new coach sufficient time to build a winning team.
  • Having worked with both experienced players in the countries where he has been, his know-how will be plus at Ingwe.

We look forward to welcoming our new head coach, Argentine Rodolfo Zapata who officially takes over the mantle from Tanzanian Dennis Kitambi on May 7.

The Leopards fraternity promises to give him all the necessary support so that we can achieve our goal of totally dominating Kenyan and African football.

But Zapata must do research about the rich history of the team and know his performance at the end of the season will determine his future at the den.

AFC Leopards has it’s targets for this season, including ending the KPL title drought that is now in its 20th year.

Apart from reclaiming the local league crown Ingwe last won in 1998, Zapata must also retain the GOtv Shield while understanding that supporter are an integral part of the team.

The 51-year-old being the 13th Ingwe coach since 2014 takes over from Kitambi who join his former boss Stewart Hall at Sai Sporting Club in Bangladesh.

But as he understudies the Tanzanian in the remaining matches, Zapata must be aware his predecessor, who assumed the reigns after Robert Matano was sacked has performed to many fans’ satisfactory.

Before the away match against Bandari in Mombasa, Kitambi had performed well, a tempo that must be maintained.

Many Ingwe followers including yours truly have very little knowledge of Zapata’s coaching career.

But we have been told he coached Gaborone United in Bostwana, MP Black Aces of South Africa and Sunshine Stars in Nigeria, among others. Never heard of these teams, but that is fine.

We are told he also coached at United States Youth Soccer Association and New Jersey Youth Soccer Association in various age categories, that is why the Ingwe management came calling for him.

Kindly bring that experience to Ingwe.

The club management has told us he has the philosophy to perfectly fit in Kitambi’s style, but let him improve our defence which seems to have the strength of wet tissue paper.

We are told Gaborone United, Zapata’s immediate former club is now playing attractive football, and he must bring this the den, keeping in mind that Ingwe is certainly bigger than Gaborone. Zapapta can check this fact in the history books.

AFC Leopards fans are very passionate and he must aim for more success to follow the victories he enjoyed wherever he came from to earn the Coach of the Year award in his first season.

Zapata must be proud of being the coach of Ingwe, the oldest club in Kenya and certainly one of the most successful.

Gor claim they are the most successful but have only won 16 titles. Tusker tout themselves as the most in recent years but have you ever attended their home matches?

The children in the household of a successful African man would be more than Tusker’s fans in the stadium.

Ingwe supporters are pleased to be told Zapata is one of the most highly regarded coaches. Ingwe is honoured to have a vastly experienced coach, but fans will always remember Kitambi who has done a great job since he took over from Robert Matano in March.

Reading Zapata’s brief profile shows a man consistently accompanying success.

We look forward to welcoming Zapata to the den and are confident he has the capacity turn around Leopards’’ fortunes.

Looking on how we performed last season, we started focusing on rebuilding the team.

Fans should give our new coach sufficient time to build a winning team.

Having worked with both experienced players in the countries where he has been, his know-how will be plus at Ingwe.