Ex-Leopards man Munene: This is why my career ended prematurely

Gor Mahia FC fans are seen during FKF Premier League match dubbed Mashemeji Derby at Nyayo National Stadium on May 14, 2023. AFC Leopards SC won 2-1 . Photo Kelly Ayodi Sportpicha
AFC Leopards former captain Washingtone Munene says his decision to play on when nursing an ankle injury against Bandari FC in the 2023/2024 FKF-PL season cut short his promising football career.
Munene says it
was "tough to be out for five months" which pushed the then Leopards
head coach Tomas Trucha to strip him of the armband, handing it to Clifton
Miheso instead.
“We were not
performing well which forced Coach Tom Juma to leave and the club re-appointed
Tomas Trucha.
Under the new
coach I got injured in our first match against the hosts Bandari in Mombasa.
Unfortunately I played on with that injury only to find out that I was going to
be on the treatment bed for five months because of an ankle injury,” Munene
said, regretting the developments of the 2023/24 season.
His return from
injury was not an easy one, with the former Wazito left back finding it hard to
cope under Trucha's football philosophy.
“When I came
back my coach had another mind and he already had his preferred player for my
left back position.
That meant I had
to sit on the bench… he also decided to strip me of the armband giving it to
Clifton Miheso,” he explained, adding, “He told me that it was very hard for me
to captain the team from the bench and that is why I lost my armband and it was
his choice to make although without satisfying reasons according to me,” he
recounted, terming Trucha’s decision ‘as not genuine’.
“Until today I
have never understood the exact reason why Trucha had to strip me of the
captaincy because I had returned and was readily available for selection even
if there was stiff competition,” Munene regretted.
Munene, 34, who decided
to finally hang up his boots last year, is now a businessman specializing in
selling sportswear in Nairobi.
“I am now
affiliated with football but in another capacity, as a sportswear businessman.
God helped me work on my calculated steps, after leaving AFC Leopards, one of
the football giants in the region. I am doing well by the grace of God and I
can’t complain,” he concluded.
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