Immediate former AFC Leopards coach Tomas Trucha has revealed the reasons behind his departure from the 12-time league champions, describing it as a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, which was set to expire in mid-2025.After Ingwe’s loss to Shabana FC on Wednesday, it became apparent that Trucha’s position as head coach was no longer tenable. The team had gone five games without a win and had dropped from third to tenth place in the standings.##NAJAVA_MECA_8538318##Following an executive meeting on Friday, both parties agreed that it was best to part ways, a decision that Trucha says he initiated after feeling the club was not moving in the right direction.”After the game against Shabana, I told the chairman that it was best for us to part ways amicably because I felt we weren’t pulling in the same direction,” Trucha explained.A few weeks earlier, Trucha had boldly claimed that the club was not in a position to compete for titles this season, a statement he believes put him at odds with the club’s management.“There are many challenges surrounding a football team. As a coach, my job is to focus on the players and work within the resources available. But everyone at the club must do their part and maintain professionalism in their roles,” he said in an interview at the time.How Gor Mahia will utilise part of Raila Odinga’s Ksh1.1 million donationHe believes the club management did not take kindly to his comments. “I said, based on my assessment of the club, that we were not ready to compete for titles right now. This was because many things were not running as they should,” he added.Trucha pointed to specific issues affecting the team’s performance. “For example, Hassan Beja needs an MRI due to an injury, but there’s no money for it. The players and coaches are not being paid on time, and with so much going wrong, the environment isn’t conducive for top honors. My comment about our inability to compete wasn’t about the squad’s capability to win the league; it’s about the other factors affecting the team’s success.”FKF Elections: A look into Cleophas Shimanyula’s plans for Kenyan footballLeopards has faced issues with FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber in recent years over breaches of contract involving foreign players and coaches. However, Trucha emphasized that he does not intend to take that route and is focused on reaching a termination agreement that benefits both parties.“We’re working on a termination agreement that will satisfy both sides. I’m not planning to take the club to FIFA. We’ll have discussions, and I’m confident we’ll reach a fair solution for both sides. I have no intention of going the FIFA route,” he said.Regarding his relationship with the club, Trucha holds no ill feelings and is proud of the work he accomplished during his one-year tenure at the club.”I hold no grudges with anyone on the team. This is purely work-related. We’ve reached a point where we can no longer work together, and that’s normal in football — it happens every day. I’ll leave happy and proud of what I’ve achieved. I took over during a difficult period and managed to guide the team to third place in the Mozzart Bet Cup and a respectable league finish.”Leopards will face Kenya Police FC this afternoon without Trucha, with Fred Ambani set to lead the team.AFC Leopards, Police desperate to arrest poor run as Shabana seeks first win over Homeboyz
