AFC Leopards’ new signing, Ovella Ochieng, is confident that the club can challenge for the Premier League title this season and bring an end to their 26-year trophy drought. The former Kariobangi Sharks winger, who joined Ingwe on the last day of the off-season transfer window, made his debut in their 2-1 victory over City Stars on Sunday.
Reflecting on AFC Leopards’ last league triumph in 1998, when they accumulated 69 points under Tanzanian coach Sunday Kayuni, Ovella emphasized his desire to help the club return to its glory days. Despite many seasons of high hopes and new players, the club has been unable to replicate the success of that 1998 team, which finished ahead of Mumias Sugar and Gor Mahia.
Ovella, returning to Kenyan football after six years abroad, expressed optimism about AFC Leopards’ future, particularly under head coach Tomas Trucha. “Why not AFC? At the moment, I think AFC is the biggest club in Kenya in terms of following and fan support,” Ovella said. “My main goal is to help AFC win the league title.”
The 24-year-old explained that he joined Leopards because of the exciting project presented by coach Trucha. “The expectation is to help the team win matches, and as a winger, I’ll do my best to ensure that by the end of the season, together with my teammates, we finish at the top of the log.”
Ovella also called on Leopards fans to continue their unwavering support as the team fights for points. “Our fans should just be with us and keep supporting us. It won’t be easy because we have a goal, and our opponents will try to stop us, but we need their support,” he added.
Leopards are currently third in the standings with nine points, just one point behind joint leaders KCB and Kariobangi Sharks after four rounds of matches.
