Football Kenya Federation Premier league side, AFC Leopards has made headlines after chairman Dan Shikanda announced that midfielders Eugene Mukangula and Peter Thiong’o have been stripped of their captaincy roles due to disciplinary reasons.
The club confirmed this decision through its social media platforms on June 7, 2023, although the specific grounds for the decision were not disclosed in the statement.
In an interview with Nairobi News, Shikanda revealed that the two players failed to demonstrate leadership qualities during a recent dispute between the players and the club’s management.
“They failed to show leadership and we cannot have them continue serving the club at these two key positions.” Shikanda told Nairobi news.
The issue arose when the players went on strike, refusing to participate in a league match against Vihiga Bullets, reportedly due to a disagreement over unpaid wages.
It was only after the intervention of club officials that the players reluctantly boarded the team bus for the game.
Unfortunately for AFC Leopards, the strike took a toll on their performance, leading to an unexpected 2-1 loss to the already relegated Vihiga Bullets.
The defeat further angered a section of the club’s supporters, who vented their frustration at the players through unpleasant comments.
The pay dispute stemmed from the players’ demand for their full salaries for the month of May 2023 before embarking on the trip. However, the club had only paid 75% of the wages.
