Former AFC Leopards chairman on why the FIFA ban was a blessing in disguise
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 03.02.26. | 08:38
Ingwe turned to their youth team after FIFA banned the club from registering players for two consecutive transfer windows
When AFC Leopards were hit with a FIFA transfer ban in March 2021, a sense of despair hung over the club.
In a letter to the club, FIFA barred Leopards from registering new players for two consecutive transfer windows after the club failed to settle a Ksh1.8 million debt owed to former Rwandan defender Vincent Habamahoro.
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Habamahoro had joined Ingwe in 2018 but left after just four months, citing unpaid wages.
He was not alone. Tresor Ndikumana, Ismailia Diara, and Soter Kayumba also exited the club under similar circumstances.
However, with the benefit of hindsight, former chairman Dan Shikanda believes the ban forced the club to confront uncomfortable truths and ultimately set it on a healthier path.
“In fact, I think that ban helped us go back to youth players and start building the team around them,” Shikanda told Mozzart Sport.
He pointed to the emergence of academy graduates as the clearest evidence of that reset, singling out Lewis Bandi and Victor Otieno as prime examples.
Shikanda recalled personally overseeing Otieno’s journey long before he became a first-team regular.
That journey, however, was not without frustration.
The Jamhuri High School alumnus was restricted to training with the senior side but could not feature in competitive matches, as he was ineligible for registration, thanks to the ban.
Otieno’s patience was finally rewarded in August 2023, when he was officially registered alongside 18 other players as the club moved to reinforce the squad after two difficult years under restriction.
His inclusion marked the end of a long wait and the beginning of his full integration into the senior team setup.
“I remember signing Victor Otieno and taking him through school from Form One to Form Four at Jamhuri High School. Later, a club came claiming he was their player, yet they did not even know him,” he said.
The ban also coincided with a period when AFC Leopards were struggling to attract established players.
“We invested in very good young players who could grow with the team. At that time, it was very hard to convince anyone to join Leopards. Everyone knew we had issues with FIFA fines, so we could not attract quality players,” Shikanda recalled.
With limited options, the club doubled down on youth development, building a core that would mature together.
Crucially, that foundation was not dismantled when leadership changed.
“I’m happy that our successors did not dismantle the team. They believed in what was there, added a few players, which is normal during transfer windows, and apart from losing Bandi, the team has remained intact,” Shikanda noted.
The payoff became clear toward the end of last season, particularly in a decisive league fixture away to Gor Mahia in Homa Bay. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
“No one gave us a chance. Everyone thought we would be beaten, so Gor could lift the league. But after that match, I told everyone this team had come of age and would be one to watch the following season,” he said.
Beyond the results, Shikanda is most encouraged by the club’s evolving identity on the pitch.
He praised the team's balance across the wings, midfield, and defense, highlighting improved build-up play and cohesion.
“They are playing beautiful football and scoring good goals, not like Arsenal goals. They are creating chances and finishing them,” he joked.
That stylistic shift, he believes, traces back to lessons learned under former coach Patrick Aussems.
“I remember Patrick Aussems telling us we were not playing football; we were just kicking the ball forward. He insisted football starts with the goalkeeper, then defenders, midfielders, and strikers. Everyone comes to play football,” he averred.
Today, Shikanda sees that philosophy is fully embedded.
“I am happy that Leopards are now playing football. I wish them all the best,” he added.
