Musonye vows to harness Leopards fan base for club gain

AFC Leopards U45 Branch Chairman Musonye has vowed to harness the unwavering support of Ingwe fans to drive lasting development within the club. Speaking after the 2025 AFC Leopards end of season awards gala held in Bungoma County, Musonye emphasized on the overall importance of the Ingwe fan base in driving the club success.

“We have seen the magnitude of the gala event this year compared to the last year’s edition in Nairobi meaning people are embracing the gala,” he said.

Musonye hailed the event’s massive turnout, which surpassed last year’s edition, as a testament to the club’s growing unity and ambition. He reiterated that the gala, alongside newly launched initiatives like the AFC Leopards office in Bungoma, would foster stronger local engagement.

He stressed that funds raised through resource mobilization would strictly go towards motivating players and promoting their welfare.

“The main initiative is to make sure we appreciate and motivate our players through resource mobilization meaning when we organize events like this and funds are mobilized - the objective is met - to support our club.”

The colourful event, hosted by the U45 Unit branch, saw several dignitaries grace the event - a strong show of solidarity. Among them were Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and MP Didmus Barasa - who all pledged continued material and financial support.

The leaders echoed a shared call to help the team find a permanent home ground and restore its past footballing glory.

Kenyan international Lewis Bandi stole the spotlight, scooping both the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Best Defender awards. Though he was absent due to national team duty ahead of CHAN, Bandi walked away with Ksh. 100,000 for MVP and Ksh. 40,000 for Best Defender.

Other winners on the night included Ronald Sichenje (Best Attacker), Musa Oundo (Best Midfielder), and Boniface Munyendo (Fan’s Player of the Season).

With fans, players, legends, and leaders rallying together, the gala marked a promising new chapter for the Leopards who seek to salvage their lost glory.