'Give Them Time' - Boniface Ambani and New Club Leadership Backed to Make AFC Leopards Great Again Despite Slow Season Start

Boniface Ambani was elected new AFC Leopards chairman last June.

Former AFC Leopards Team Manager Benard Onyango has urged fans of the 13-time Kenyan champions to remain patient and allow the club’s new leadership, led by Chairman Boniface Ambani, sufficient time to rebuild and restore the team’s lost glory.

Ingwe have endured a slow start to the 2025/26 Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) season, recording two draws in their opening fixtures — a 1-1 stalemate with Sofapaka and a 2-2 draw against Posta Rangers.

Despite the modest start, Onyango believes Ambani’s leadership marks the beginning of a new era for the club and that genuine transformation will take time.

“In this short period, the only thing that can turn things around is giving leadership time. Bonny is a young leader and a good planner,” Onyango told Mozzart Sport.

The former Harambee Stars and KCC striker praised Ambani’s deep understanding of football, both on and off the pitch, noting that his experience as a former player and coach gives him a clear vision of what needs to be done.

“He has been there, he knows what is supposed to be done and when. Let’s just support the chairman and give the team a little patience,” Onyango added.

AFC Will Be a Rock Under Ambani

Onyango highlighted that the current AFC Leopards squad is built around youthful talent and that consistency, investment, and mentorship will be key to future success.

“If you look at AFC, they are small kids — the majority of them. They’re going to do wonders. AFC will be a rock if they continue with the culture being cultivated,” he explained.

However, he also cautioned that internal wrangles and divisions could easily derail progress.

“But if they start rubbing shoulders with the chairman, nothing will happen. Things will just collapse and the club will be in danger,” Onyango warned.

He appealed to the club’s supporters to manage expectations and allow Ambani and his team to lay a sustainable foundation for success.

“The new leadership came in this year; we can’t expect results in one season. Give them two or three years before asking for trophies. With the current leadership, I trust they can change everything if given time,” he concluded.

In the recent ODM@20 Anniversary Tournament, AFC Leopards finished fourth after falling to Bandari and Shabana, but the new administration remains confident the club’s rebuilding process is on the right path.