Allan Kasavuli (l) and AFC Leopards Secretary General, George Aladwa.
NAIROBI, May 28 – Allan Kasavuli has claimed infighting within the National Executive Committee (NEC) was the main reason for his abrupt resignation as AFC Leopards chairman.
Kasavuli said he was unable to run the cash strapped club since the leaders could not work as a team but told members not to worry since the club is in the safe hands of former long serving chairman and County Assembly of Nairobi Speaker, Alex Ole Magelo as patron.
“I quit because AFC Leopards is a big club and I could not run it alone. We were very few in the NEC, only five but still we could not reason as a team. In this, I could not co-opt members in the club.
“Even if we could have gone for the AGM, we could not hold elections so I decided to bring on board someone whom I knew would run the club well. He is the one who brought me and I have brought him back. I’m not an outsider; I will continue supporting the club,” Kasavuli, who pledged to give the players Sh400, 000 on Monday revealed.
However, Members of the NEC who rejected the interim management team chaired by business man Amir Walji were due to meet Thursday to come up with a response after accusing Kasavuli of giving the club back to Magelo who endorsed him for the chairmanship post in 2013.
“It’s very unfortunate that he (Kasavuli) went against the constitution to appoint a caretaker committee. The rest of the NEC members will meet and give guidance to the members. Most likely we shall be convening an SGM to address that,” assistant Secretary General, Asava Kadima told Capital Sport.
Leopards financial problems were compounded by the withdrawal of shirt sponsor Mumias Sugar earlier this season and they have not been able to secure a new deal but Walji declared he will bring a financial backer by August.
“A sponsor will be on board in the next two months so that our team can go on well. I’m not new to the club, I was the treasurer in 2010 and without a sponsor, I put in Sh20m in the team.
“I will take care of the welfare of the club because I know players are suffering a lot,” Walji, who vied for the Westlands MP seat in 2013 but lost to club patron, Tim Wanyonyi, pledged.
Kasavuli who has been under fire for failing to stabilize the club financially as well as poor leadership, was forced to throw in the towel after branch members called for his resignation alongside Secretary General, George Aladwa.
During his two-year tenure, financial woes almost crippled the club with players going four months without pay with training boycotts and threats to abscond matches the order of the day at the Den.
Kasavuli was elected in June 2013, after beating former vice chairman, Walter Onyino, Daniel Anthony Mule and Mathews Opwora.