Kenyan giants AFC Leopards have revealed reasons for their failure to hire a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) despite advertising the post, conducting interviews and shortlisting three candidates. Leopards advertised the position through their online portal seven months ago, attracting more than 20 applicants according to chairman Dan Shikanda. Former AFC Leopards forward Ezekiel Otuoma passes awaySubsequently, the management conducted interviews and shortlisted three candidates but the best choice remains unknown and is yet to assume office heading to the new year. Ingwe have been without a substantive CEO since October 2023 when Victor Bwibo was reportedly shown the door following the disastrous start in the 2023-2024 season. The club handed the responsibility to former team manager Albert Wesonga, who held the position until October this year although on an interim basis. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8586120##Shikanda, surprisingly, attributed their inability to hire a new CEO to the closure of the Nyayo National Stadium where the club had been hosting league matches. Nyayo has been unavailable for football activities this season as the facility closed its doors shortly after Gor Mahia suffered a 3-0 defeat to Egyptian giants Al Ahly in September. Consequently, Ingwe and other clubs that staged home matches at Nyayo were forced to relocate to Dandora Stadium to pave the way for renovation works at the country’s second-biggest sporting facility. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8586059##Shikanda revealed that the club had hoped to use a chunk of gate collections, from matches played at Nyayo, to cater for the CEO’s salary and to meet other administrative costs not covered by sponsorship money. AFC Leopards announce exit of acting CEOHe regretted that their earnings from Dandora Stadium have been falling short of their projected collections, and as a result, they are unable to complete the acquisition of the top-ranking official. “We used to collect between Ksh600,000-700,000 on average during normal home league matches at Nyayo. The money would see us pay our former CEO’s and meet other administrative costs. We have been averaging Ksh150,000 from Dandora matches which is not enough to guarantee the new CEO his salary,” revealed Shikanda. AFC Leopards fire Victor Bwibo set to elevate Albert WesongaPressed further, Shikanda disclosed that the club intends to offer the successful candidate a lucrative package so as to focus on service delivery at the Den. The former Kenya international without delving into confidential matters, said a majority of the applicants quoted a salary expectation of at least half a million shillings. “We do not want to hire a cheap one. We are interested in hiring a CEO, who will make a difference at the den and one whom we will get value for the investment we will make in him or her. We promise to appreciate his or her services with a good package,” he added. Birthday boy Ryan Ogam strikes 13th goal in 13 games as Tusker overcome PostaMeanwhile, Shikanda, who was recently elected the Football Kenya Federation National Executive Committee (NEC) member for Nairobi Region, promised to complete the process early next year. He pledged to fill in the gap in time as the club will be gearing up for the elections in June. “The secretariat has been helpful in the running of the club in the absence of a CEO. We will, however, look for additional sources of funding and finish the hiring process next year. The club will be having a new and a settled CEO before the elections,” he added.
