This archive report was first published on 26 July 2019.
The Rise and Fall of AFC Leopards ¶
Published on July 26, 2019
AFC Leopards' 1998 championship win was a remarkable achievement, but the team's subsequent decline under coach Sunday Kayuni was marked by controversy and poor performance.
That year, the team, led by coach Flemming Jacobsen and his assistant Martin Ndagano, played 15 matches without a loss, including a crucial win against arch-rivals Gor Mahia.
The team's success was attributed to the conducive environment created by Jacobsen and Ndagano, who managed to bring out the best in the players.
However, the team's fortunes changed when Jacobsen resigned, and Kayuni took over. Kayuni's unorthodox training methods and attitude towards the players led to a decline in performance, and the team eventually lost to Rivatex 4-0 in their first match under Kayuni.
As a player, Mathew Ottamax had personal issues with Kayuni, who he claimed had a wrong attitude towards the team. Ottamax alleged that Kayuni would sneak out other players from the team to attend national team camps, leaving him behind.
Despite his grievances, Ottamax continued to play for the team, but his relationship with Kayuni deteriorated further. Ottamax eventually left the team and joined SC Villa in Uganda, where he won several titles under a progressive coach.
Looking back, Ottamax believes that it is unprofessional for a respected person to claim that they bewitched someone or something. He urges Kayuni to style up and respect the younger generation.
