AFC Leopards Dan Mule display his certificate.PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya.
NAIROBI, July 24- Daniel Mule has promised to bring Kenyan Premier League giants AFC Leopards back to the glory days as he takes charge of the den for a period of four years.
Mule was elected the new chairman on Sunday after flooring Maurice Amahwa following the day-long polls run by the Sports Disputes Tribunal at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani.
The 48-year old businessman, who was a co-chairman alongside Mathews Opwora in the previous regime, garnered 1,160 votes ahead of Amahwa, who managed to get 822 votes.
Opwora had pulled out of the race on Saturday, throwing his weight behind Amahwa.
“I feel happy after winning today. It was a tough race but the victory is for all the AFC Leopards fans. It was a long journey but we are glad we got here. The work has just begun. I ask everyone to work together regardless of whichever camp someone was. The bigger picture is the team, not individuals,” Mule told Capital Sport just after being announced winner.
He says his biggest ambition is to make AFC Leopards a self-sustaining club as well as making it successful on the pitch.
“We want to make this club as great as it has always been. Our progress has been slowed down over the last few years due to wrangles but we want to put that behind us. This is a new start and among the things we want to do is make the club successful on and off the pitch.”
“It has been almost 20 years since we last won the league and that is not good for a club of our stature. This year definitely we can’t make it but next year we have to fight for it. We also want to make this club self-sustaining and in the next two years we should have our own training ground,” Mule added.
NAIROBI, July 24- Daniel Mule has promised to bring Kenyan Premier League giants AFC Leopards back to the glory days as he takes charge of the den for a period of four years. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya.
There was a scuffle that threatened to distract the peaceful process with Robert Asembo, the former AFC Leopards vice chairman and Amahwa alleging the process had not been free and fair and some of their voters had not been allowed to vote.
The polling booths were opened at 7am and closed at 1pm with the tallying process starting half-an-hour later.
“It has been a great process and everyone has seen we carried out a credible process. We are satisfied with everything today and hopefully things turn better for Leopards,” the AFC Leopards electoral board secretary Irene Tindi said.
Felix Shitsama was elected vice chairman with 1,613 votes ahead of Lawrence Ngecha who had 469 votes. The Organizing Secretary’s post was fiercely contested with Timothy Lilumbi returning to the post after beating former coach Gilbert Selebwa with just six votes.
Lilumbi had 920 while Selebwa had 914. Noah Wanyama, the father to Tottenham midfielder Victor Mugubi was third with 256 votes.
Oscar Igaida was elected new Secretary General after getting 832 votes, beating Ronald Namai who managed 759.
He will be assisted by Elijah Omung’ala who beat Suleiman Angulu with a huge margin after accumulating 1,602 votes against Angulu’s 475.
Oliver Imbenzi will be the club’s new treasurer deputized by Justus Makabila. The Executive Committee will be composed of Saul Abwae, Oliver Sikuku and Irene Mukabi.
