With only hours left before the 2021/2022 Football Kenya Federation Premier League campaign kicks off, the joint second-best club in the land has never been in a shambolic state as what is being currently witnessed at the den.Just one month after the conclusion of the 2020/2021 season where they finished an impressive fourth – their highest ever finish since the 2013 season -, a ticking time bomb awaits to explode at Ingwe, if things are not taken care of sooner rather than later.A squad that only needed time after showing a lot of promise in the ended campaign is no longer available and nowhere to be seen. Elvis Rupia, gone. Benjamin Ochan, gone. Fabrice Mugheni, gone. Joining the three departed players are Austin Odhiambo, former club captain Robinson Kamura, John Oyemba, Ezekiel Owade, Yusuf Mainge, Said Tsuma, Hansel Ochieng among others who have walked out of the club.Done DealRobinson Kamura has joined KCB on a one-year deal. #FKFPL pic.twitter.com/w18oJZeZh8— Ole Teya (@Kevin_teya) September 19, 2021 Worryingly, heading into their league opening fixture against reigning champions Tusker, Leopards only have one confirmed goalkeeper, Maxwel Mulili, within their ranks after the departure of all three goalkeepers who came ahead of the youngster in the previous seasons.Untried and untested is the word that comes to mind when you mention Mulili. The former national under-17 goalkeeper has little experience in the top flight after being forced down the pecking order due to tough competition from the experienced goalkeepers.Contractual differences saw Ochan, who seemed to have solved Ingwe’s problems in goal and who kept an impressive nine clean sheets, just three short of Golden Glove winner James Saruni from Ulinzi Stars, depart the club. Back up keepers Oyemba and Owade also exited the club due to similar reasons. You may then wonder why the club has not made any replacements which is the obvious thing to do.Auctioneers camp at AFC Leopards offices over debts⚽️| Ingwe are short in their goalkeeping ranks after first choice Benjamin Ochan and Ezekiel Owade departed the club at the end of the seasonThe club is in talks to sign the 2020/2021 NSL keeper of the yearFull Story📩#AFCLeopards #Ingwe #FKFPLhttps://t.co/sbIAikc355— Mozzart Sport Kenya (@MozzartSportKe) September 18, 2021 Currently, a transfer embargo by FIFA has rocked the club meaning that there is no one they can sign. And despite the club releasing a statement to placate their fanbase, one just wonders the team Ingwe will field come Sunday.“The club is also aware that we have lost a number of players after we failed to agree on contractual aspects. We wish the players all the best in their future engagements. However, our focus is on the group of dedicated players in the camp and we are working tirelessly to ensure that their welfare is at the forefront of our season planning,”“Due to the FIFA transfer ban, we have not been active in the transfer window however our technical team has been working on a solution to raise quality and competitive team that will battle for honours in the coming season,” part of the statement read.Stricken AFC Leopards management moves to placate fans after mass exodusUntil Sunday when they take on Tusker as the 2021/2022 season gets underway, we await to see who the club will have as their goalkeepers for the season.
