AFC Leopards fans and members have issued formal warning letters to Head Coach Tomas Trucha, his assistants Ken Wendo, Fred Ambani, and goalkeeper trainer Haggai Azande, following the team’s underwhelming performance in recent matches. The discontent culminated after a 1-0 midweek loss to Murang’a Seal, sparking calls for immediate improvement, with the threat of further action if results do not change.
Coach Tomas Trucha, who rejoined AFC Leopards a year ago, has led the team in 39 competitive matches, winning 21, drawing 9, and losing 9. During his tenure, Leopards have scored 46 goals and conceded 24. Despite this, the recent poor form has overshadowed his earlier success, with fans now demanding an immediate turnaround.
In a strongly-worded letter, the fans highlighted their concerns:
_”This letter serves as a warning to you regarding your poor performance in the latest Kenya Premier League matches as revealed by your performance reports. We have continuously monitored your performance and it has occurred to us that the ratings aren’t satisfactory and have consistently failed to meet the team’s expectations.”_
The fans further indicated that the club’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had already discussed the matter with Trucha, emphasizing that the situation is dire. They warned him of the consequences if no improvement is made in the upcoming league fixture:
_”If we don’t see any significant improvement in your performance during the next league match against Mara Sugar, we will have no choice but to call on you to terminate your contract with AFC Leopards.”_
Assistant coach Kennedy Wendo, a former AFC Leopards forward, joined the technical bench this season, but his contributions have been questioned by fans. In their letter, they expressed disappointment with his failure to effectively support the head coach and address tactical issues. The letter detailed specific concerns:
_”We as fans are concerned and want to see you succeed in your assignment. Therefore, it’s your duty as the assistant head coach to help identify gaps in the team and discuss with the head coach on different tactics and areas to improve the overall team performance.”_
The fans did not mince their words, listing three key areas where Wendo has fallen short:
1. _”Failure to address the numerous concerns by fans on continued poor performance.”_
2. _”Failure to constantly advise the head coach on fielding of the first eleven.”_
3. _”Failure to address the dressing room unrest on the choice of the first eleven in different matches.”_
They concluded with a clear ultimatum:
_”Failure to see improvement in the next league match against Mara Sugar, we will have no choice but to call on you to terminate your contract with AFC Leopards with immediate effect.”_
Despite sitting 4th on the Kenya Premier League table, with 10 points from 6 games (3 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw), fans are not satisfied. The team’s 8 goals scored and 4 conceded reflect a solid start on paper, but the recent slump has ignited growing concerns.
With letters sent to Trucha, Wendo, Ambani, and Azande, the coaching staff now faces immense pressure ahead of the next fixture. The fans have made it clear that nothing short of an improved performance against Mara Sugar will suffice, and failure to deliver could result in drastic changes on the technical bench.
The upcoming match is crucial for AFC Leopards’ technical team, as their jobs now hang in the balance amid rising fan unrest. The coaches will need to stabilize the team and get results to avoid further repercussions.