AFC Leopards coach secretary general Gilbert Andugu has reassured fans that the FIFA ban slapped on the club will soon be lifted to enable the club register new players ahead of the new season.
Ingwe are currently frozen from signing players by FIFA as they, have not paid their former coach Patrick Aussems the Ksh. 20 million as ordered by FIFA’s Disputes Resolution Chamber for breaching the tactician’s contract.
The 12-time league did not sign players in the last two windows, and failing to strengthen the squad this window may prove catastrophic as the unit is already stretched with injuries and departures.
Andugu has moved to raise the spirits of the supporters, saying that they are doing all they can to have the embargo lifted.
Ingwe were handed a boost on Friday when Sports CS Ababu Namwamba handed them Ksh.5 million to help them settle part of the money they owe Aussems.
“We are on top of things, and soon we will have a solution, and I urge our fans to be calm; we will be out of the woods soon, “Andugu said.
“The target is that by the 20th of August we should be done and behind the scenes we are doing all we can to ensure that we find a solution to this problem. We are confident of striking a deal soon,” he expressed his confidence.
Meanwhile a number of new players have been spotted training with the club at the Mpesa Fondation grounds.
Among them are Humphrey Katasi, Vincent Mahiga, Hassan Beja, Boniface Munyendo and Randy Bakari all from Nzoia Sugar FC.
Brian Mandela from Mwatate, Luke Namanda, who is currently unattached, Brian Yakhama from Talanta, and Andugu say they have to ensure that they have a playing unit as they work on the ban impasse.
“Even as we engage the coach, we have to ensure that the team continues with its preparations uninterrupted, and that is why we are engaging players, and those that we have reached an agreement with are training with the team. We have to ensure that the playing unit is ready so that when the ban is lifted, all we will be left with is registering them ahead of the new season,” he added.
Leopards start the new season with a home match against FC Talanta.
