AFC Leopards in the process of acquiring a women's team to beat CAF rules

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FOOTBALL AFC Leopards in the process of acquiring a women's team to beat CAF rules

Joel Omotto 14:58 - 22.05.2023

Ingwe are exploring how to bring on board the FKF Women’s Division One League side amid the tough regulations from Africa’s football governing body

AFC Leopards are in the process of acquiring FKF Women’s Division One side Makolanders FC in an effort to beat Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) rules that require all sides that aspire to feature in continental club competitions to have a women’s side.

Leopards are one of several Kenyan sides without a women’s team but have begun the process of getting their house in order, opting to take over an existing entity, rather than starting a new team from scratch which has proved costly for some sides.

Makolanders, one of Kenya’s oldest teams, were relegated from the FKF Women’s Premier League in 2021 after a 28-year stay in the top flight, and have been struggling to get back in the top flight. It now appears Leopards are set to offer them a route back if things go according to plan.

“It is a team we are interested in but depending on a lot of things,” Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda told Pulse Sports on Monday. “We are finishing one or two things and we will give an official position soon.”

Shikanda had in March denied rumours of Ingwe acquiring Makolanders, saying the club was focused on building a team from scratch but seems to have beat a hasty retreat perhaps informed by how rigorous it is to start a new side.

CAF decided to change its rules in 2021 but some clubs have left it late to make a decision on how to add a women’s side to their roster as the new regulations came into force ahead of the 2023-2024 campaign.

Makolanders are currently placed 11th on the 15-team Division One table on 12 points from 16 games following their 3-1 win over Falling Waters in Nyahururu at the weekend.