AFC Leopards fans assured of 51 per cent club ownership
AFC Leopards fans rally behind their team during a friendly match to commemorate the club's 60 years anniversary at Nyayo National Stadium on March 24, 2024.
What you need to know:
- Eight-member taskforce given a six-month timeframe to complete consultations and present their findings.
- The taskforce is set to tour others areas in the country in December, including Rift Valley and Coast region.
Kenyan Premier League side AFC Leopards has assured its signed up members of a 51 per cent controlling shares in a proposed corporate structure for the 60-year-old club.
The club further said the remaining 49 per cent of the shares will be reserved for strategic investors.
The announcement was made by AFC Leopards Corporate Taskforce on Wednesday after a 10-day tour public participation exercise in Western Kenya.
The during the tour, fans submitted their views on whether the club should be transformed from a society to a corporate entity.
The eight-member taskforce, led by Vincent Shimoli, has been given a six-month timeframe to complete consultations and present their findings in February 2025 for the club's National Executive Committee to review and announce at the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) for members to decide on the way forward for the club.
The Western tour came hot on the heels of a one-month activation in Nairobi, where several branch members underwent civic education on the same.
The taskforce is set to tour others areas in the country in December, including Rift Valley and Coast region.
Speaking on behalf of the eight-member team, Richard Ekhalie, who is serving as the secretary, said the 10-day public participation tour in Western Kenya concluded with a positive feedback from enthusiastic club members.
AFC Leopards task force officials with representatives from the club's branches in western region.
Mr Ekhalie said the tour, which kicked off on November 14, saw members of various branches learning more about the proposed transformation process.
“Club members have been eager to know their status in the proposed corporate structure. Most of them are pleased with the proposed mixed ownership model that will guarantee their place on the high table of decision making,” Mr Ekhalie said.
The areas that taskforce explored during the public participation exercise included commercialisation of football and the pros and cons of various football ownership models.
Members were also allowed to ask questions and give suggestions for consideration after the presentations which took a town hall format.
Ingwe legends, who also attended the sessions, emphasized the need for talent development from the grassroots and the importance of a legacy programme.
An email address [email protected] was given for club members to send memoranda for consideration.
Among the branches represented included Khayega, Musoli, Kakamega, Great Kakamega, Bukura/Shibuli, Kakamega Ingwe, Kabras, Bunyore, Vihiga, Eregi, Lirhanda and Cheptulu.
Club patron Alex Muteshi, Laureen Aseka, Clarence Juma, Bramwel Aino and Nelly Mwashi are the other members of the taskforce who were part of the Western region tour.
