By Gilbert Wandera
Alex ole Magelo on Tuesday offered to step down as chairman of troubled AFC Leopards hours after an interim committee was formed to run the affairs of the club.
Magelo said he supports the decision by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to name a six member committee that will take the clubs administration role, of course on an interim basis, until fresh polls are conducted.
“This was the best decision considering the circumstances. I have had sleepless nights because of this wrangles, which were doing nothing but to kill the club. I fully support the committee and will offer my support to them,” he said.
Magelo urged the committee to also organise for elections once the first leg is over and expressed confidence that he will be re-elected.
Loved the club
“My heart has always been with this club and that is why with the help of my friends we managed to help it come out of relegation to the top of the KPL.
“I believe that because of what I have done in the past at the club, I should be re-elected even unopposed,” said Magelo.
He called for a transparent process during the election exercise and challenged all those who have gone to court to wait for the polls.
The former AFC Leopard’s chairman said the court case filed by his challenger Sammy Ayina has affected the club’s performance but asked players and technical bench to remain focused and professional to their course. He also pleaded with them to welcome the new committee that has been put in place.
Picked committee
FKF on Tuesday announced a six-man committee to run the club on an interim basis pending elections and the outcome of a court case. Members of the committee include Hussein Terry, Doris Petra, Patrick Naggi, Jack Oguda and Lilian Nzile while Mumias Sugar, the sponsors of the club, will appoint two people to sit on the committee, which will also incorporate the club’s technical bench members.
FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya said the committee’s mandate will be to prepare the team for the remaining two KPL matches of the first leg.
“As a long term measure, the federation will liaise with the registrar of societies to work on a road map towards elections before the second leg kicks-off.”
“The federation will take serious action against anybody who violates this order. In the meantime, FKF has requested the parties to seek other dispute resolution avenues and not in courts,” said Nyamweya.
AFC are sitting third on the log on 27 points, two shy of Sofapaka whom they are scheduled to face at Nyayo National Stadium having led the table from the second week of the campaign.
