Selebwa resigns moments after suspension

By Gilbert Wandera and Erick Ochieng’

AFC Leopards coach Gilbert Selebwa resigned hours after the Premier League side suspended him.

In a news conference in Nairobi yesterday, Club Secretary Richard Ekhalie said Selebwa was suspended for allegedly undermining team officials and also for trying to incite players.

Pressed further, the official was not willing to elaborate how the former coach has been undermining the office.

"For now that is all we can say on Selebwa’s fate," he said.

He announced that assistant coach Edward Manoah takes over on an acting capacity until a new coach is identified in the next couple of days.

"We have agreed Manoah takes charge of the team for a few days until we finalise the recruitment of a new coach," he said.

He did not confirm or deny whether former national team coach Twahir Muhiddin was tipped to take over. Contacted, Selebwa admitted to have been suspended but faulted the office of giving in to fans demands.

"I urge fans to give the office time to operate," he said. Selebwa denied charges levelled against him and challenged the officials to state his exact crimes.

He said he would continue to be part of the club and will still offer services when required.

"I still have a vision for this club. It has a future and the last thing I want is confrontation with anyone," he added.

At the same time, Leopards launched a Short Message Service facility aimed at wooing fans to join the club.

Interested fans will send a text to the number 2225 which will be charged a premium rate of Sh50.

Ekhalie said they are targeting two million members to hook up on the service that will help the club raise a substantial amount of money to run their activities in the next three months.

"The service is available on both Safaricom and Zain subscribers and is a way for our members to support the club," he said.