The Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT) has issued a directive freezing the accounts of Kenya Premier League club AFC Leopards after the club reportedly failed to pay a Ksh8 million settlement owed to former head coach Tom Juma, goalkeeper trainer Lawrence Webo, and physiotherapist Bonaventure Odire.
The club, which agreed to the compensation following a breach of contract, allegedly defaulted on the payment, prompting the trio to return to the tribunal.
In the recent ruling issued by SDT chairman John Ohaga, AFC Leopards’ bankers were instructed to suspend any transfers from the club’s accounts.
Kenya suffered a 2-0 loss to South Sudan in their first round match of the 2024 CHAN qualifiers.
«In the interim, the Respondent and the Garnishee are hereby restrained from transferring any monies held by the Garnishee in the name of the Respondent until the matter is mentioned before this Honourable Tribunal for further direction,» the ruling seen by stated.
According to the trio’s lawyer, AFC Leopards currently owes Ksh5.8 million, as they have failed to uphold the monthly payment schedule set to clear the debt.
The club and the former staff had initially agreed to resolve the matter out of court, settling on a payment plan; however, AFC Leopards have since struggled to meet the terms.
AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has weighed in on the commitment of Yanga fans to their club that he wants Ingwe supporters to emulate if the club has to elevate its status.
The dismissal of Juma and his colleagues stemmed from the club’s poor performance under his leadership, including a 2-0 loss to Gor Mahia in October 2023 that left AFC Leopards near the bottom of the FKF Premier League standings.
Following the team’s six-game winless streak under his management, Juma was dismissed.
The SDT’s decision to freeze AFC Leopards’ accounts underscores the club’s financial struggles and pressures to meet its contractual obligations.
The matter awaits further direction from the tribunal, which will determine how the club must proceed to resolve the outstanding debt.