Westlands Member of Parliament Tim Wanyonyi has called on newly elected AFC Leopards officials to emulate Athletics Kenya’s (AK) grassroots success model as they begin a new chapter under chairman Boniface Ambani.
Speaking on June 29 at Stadion Hotel, Kasarani, shortly after casting his vote during the club’s Special General Meeting (SGM), Wanyonyi emphasized the urgent need to refocus the club’s strategy on talent development from the grassroots.
I want to encourage the incoming team to go out and look for players not just in Nairobi but deep in the grassroots. That’s where raw talent is found,” said Wanyonyi.
Drawing comparisons with Athletics Kenya, the lawmaker noted that Kenya’s athletics dominance is built on scouting young, often unknown talents from rural areas and secondary schools—nurturing them into world-beating champions.
Just look at Athletics Kenya. These young men and women giving Kenya pride on the world stage are mostly unknown talents from villages, scouted early, nurtured, and now winning medals,” he said, citing 20-year-old steeplechase world bronze medalist Faith Cherotich from Segetet village in Kipkelion West as a prime example.
Boniface Ambani, a former Leopards striker, was overwhelmingly elected as the new chairman during the SGM, succeeding outgoing chair Dan Shikanda. He now leads the club for the next four years.
Wanyonyi urged Ambani’s team to reconnect the club with its roots and rebuild its famed scouting and development network, especially through secondary school games and feeder teams.
School games are where Ingwe scouts should be camping. Teams we’ve never even heard of are producing outstanding talent,” Wanyonyi emphasized.
He also recalled how AFC Leopards’ 1998 title-winning squad was made up largely of school-based players, such as Rodgers Muhanji, Paul Milemba, and Austin Makacha from Musingu High, Sylvester Wanyama from Jamhuri High, and Chris Odhiambo, who joined the first team while still in Form Three at Mbale High School.
Other top players like Maurice Sunguti rose through the club’s feeder side Reunion, while development teams like Motcom and Rivatex were crucial pipelines for young talent.
As AFC Leopards embark on a new era under Ambani’s leadership, Wanyonyi promised his full backing and encouraged unity in rebuilding the club’s legacy.
Our support will come, because we know when we appreciate our players, they will give even more. Let’s rebuild this team together,” he concluded.
