AFC Leopards Secretary General Gilbert Andugu has downplayed developments surrounding news that AFC Leopards players have staged a no-show in training due to the non-payment of their winning bonuses, but confirmed that there was a delay in remittanceIt was reported late Wednesday that Ingwe players – entitled to Ksh. 5000 per win – had not received their bonuses dating back to their last four wins ( Ksh. 20,000 in total for an individual player).Despite club chairman Dan Shikanda’s attempts to persuade them to train, Mozzart Sport journalist Kevin Teya says that they declined audience and returned home.EXCLUSIVE AFC Leopards SC players down tools over 20K winning allowance AFC Leopards players have refused to train due to the non-payment of their KES. 20,000 winning allowance, which they haven’t received for the last four wins.Each player in the match day squad is… pic.twitter.com/7W5jTKtIeO— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) February 21, 2024 “This is a wake up call to me and club officials if today’s developments are indeed true,” Andugu, who told Mozzart Sport that he had been away and held up in other activities, said.Asked whether there was a delay in match bonuses entitled to match-day squad members, he said: “It is true that we have had a delay in the process. Normally the amount is paid after every win but that has not been the case in the last few weeks.”On the delay he added: “As you are aware the club has been facing a tough economical time especially making sure that our former head coach Patrick Aussems’ fine is duly paid. Our budget unfortunately has been unsustainable but we are working round the clock to make sure that all pending demands are met.”How AFC Leopards got slapped with 20 million fine, three window transfer ban over Aussems contract sagaOn the question of whether at any point communication was made to players on the delay, Andugu said: “Some of the players indeed had a meeting with the Club Chairman last week [in the lead-up to the Kakamega Homeboyz match] where everything was communicated and an agreement reached.“What I can’t promise now is when the payments will be effected, but we as an administration are working to have them sorted. Whether through mobilizations, fundraisers or through our gate collections, we will find a way to pay our players.”AFC Leopards are on Sunday expected to kickstart their Mozzart Bet Cup journey in a Round of 32 clash against PAC University at Police Sacco Grounds from 1515 EAT.##NAJAVA_MECA_7891622##
