New officials need to start with basics

The AFC Leopards fraternity has spoken. They have entrusted Dan Mule with the responsibility of managing the club for the next three years following recently held elections.

I am hoping Mule and his lieutenants vice chairman Felix Shitsama, Oliver Imbenzi (treasurer), and Timothy Lilumbi (organising secretary), have a clue of what awaits them.

The soft-spoken Mule and his team must be aware that the current AFC Leopards Sports Club’s set up is a far cry away from that popular and successful outfit with a rich history that most often than not sent shivers down the spine of other football teams in the region back in the day.

The officials should also know that the current Ingwe has fallen way behind its regional peers, the likes of Nkana Red Devils (Zambia), St Georges (Ethiopia), Simba and Yanga (Tanzania), El Merreikh and Al Hilal (Sudan) or KCCA (Uganda).

They must also be aware that a contest between Ingwe and any of the aforementioned teams at the moment - if all factors remained constant - is more likely to end in a humiliating defeat for the Kenyan club.

Again, I hope that Mule understands the situation is so mainly because this club has in recent times been run down by a clique of opportunists who masqueraded as sports administrators, with the aid of some selfish men and women who happened to attract political influence.

FALL FROM GRACE

The failure to win a league title for almost the last two decades best highlights the fall from grace of this popular club. Ingwe has found itself in some embarrassing scenarios, key among, the numerous court battles involving club officials, mass exodus of players because a poor management, financial woes, shuffling of coaches, et al. 

Based on this, it is evident that it will not be a walk in the park for Mule, who has promised he will ensure Leopards reclaim their lost glory.

That is why my advice to the new man and his team as they embark on this journey will be to start with the basics.

This entails setting up a secretariat, and hiring a professional management team consisting of an experienced chief executive officer, general manager and a finance manager for better management.

These people will professionalise the running of the club, which is now mandatory according to the new rules introduced by the Confederation of African Football on club licensing. Critically, this effective approach to management will enable the club realise its targets fast, and attract corporate partners at the expense of the political ones.

Painstaking as that may be, this is a model that has worked at most of the successful sporting institutions in the world.

Also of importance should be the setting up of a youth academy to compliment the first squad in the future. As you do this, Bwana Mule, keep your distance from people salivating for cash on the sidelines. Keep them away from you, they will lead you astray.

Forget about winning titles for now. Just embark on those basics. Best of luck sir.

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