AFC Leopards transformation from community club to corporate entity gathers pace

Thirteen-time KPL champions AFC Leopards are in the transition process, as they seek to move from the traditional community club tag to a corporate module.

The oldest club in the Kenyan top tier will be seeking to move from the “Harambee club,” where politicians, fans and well-wishers dig deep into their pockets to run it, into a profit-making entity.

The task force formed three weeks ago to spearhead the club's transition will head to Dar, es Salaam, Tanzania making stopovers at giants Yanga FC and Simba SC to benchmark with the most successful community clubs in East Africa.

The team is chaired by Vincent Shimoli, Alex Muteshi (treasurer), Richard Ekhalie (secretary), Laureen Aseka (assistant secretary), Nelly Mwashi, Bramwell Aino and Clarence Jumbo.

The octad has been mandated by the club's executive members to help change the “Mulembe” nation club to greater heights and modernise the side that boats of the biggest fan base in the county, into a world-class entity in the next six months.

“Our three-day visit in Tanzania will be checking on the corporate modules of the two most successful clubs in East Africa, and borrowing what can work in our market, in this case football business,” Aseka said.

Aseka emphasized that they will conduct civic education between October and December, on the advantages of moving from the community club to an investor-friendly corporate structure, while also convincing the over 5000 registered members and over six million fans countrywide to invest in the club.

In January, the team will come up with a blueprint of the corporate model that can work for Ingwe, before it is was ratified in the AGM.

Meanwhile, Taskforce secretary Richard Ekhalie said they will open the club to investors, who include fans, and political and business communities to ensure they have a spine to stand on their own.

Ekhalie dreams of getting partners that will see them have a modern clubhouse, academy and stadium in the future.

Chairman Vincent Shimoli insisted the club had to move into a corporate model to suit structures seen in big clubs all over the world.

“The lowest paid player in Kenya is paid around Sh25,000, while in  Tanzania, they get close to Sh250,000. I know we will get a lot of opposition; we must up our game to attract the best players,” Shimoli said.

Patron Alex Muteshi thanked Minister for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavai, for donating Sh2m for the task force.

The comparative football analysis won’t stop in Tanzania but will head to South Africa, where clubs like Kaizer Chiefs, and Orlando Pirates follow the model. They will also check the German and Spanish sides.

As the task force forges ahead, club chairman Dan Shikanda will be sweating on how to ensure Ingwe gras the KPL title for the first time since 1998.

Ingwe's move comes after rivals  Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier, visited Tanzania in June to also benchmark on how the corporate model works.  Rachier met Yanga President Hersi  Said during the Kagame Cecafa Cup.