AFC Leopards management decide on Ruto’s donation amid wage dispute
AFC Leopards management has converted Sh1.3 million worth of donations paid to the players by well wishers into match winning bonuses.
Leopards players were recently awarded Sh1 million by President William Ruto after the 2-1 win over Gor Mahia in a league match dubbed Mashemeji derby.
The players also received a Sh300,000 token from ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo.
In an interview with Nairobi News, club chairman Dan Shikanda confirmed each player received between Sh30,000 and Sh40,000 from the two donations.
The administrator clarified that the management intially had no issue with the players sharing the money as a ‘gift’.
But this has changed, with the gift converted to allowances after the players recently went on strike.
“What they did has its repercussions and now the money they shared from the Sh1.3 million donation has been converted as payment from the club to cover for their match winning bonuses and other debts. Our players shared the money without even giving the stewards a penny and still went on strike even after we explained to them why part of their salary was not paid,” said Shikanda.
“There is no contractual obligation that donation to the club should be given to the players directly. It is a favour to them because the club leadership has the responsibility to decide on how such money should be divided. We allowed them to share the money but they still went on strike. Now we are treating the donation as part of payment they received from the club for their bonuses,” added the former Ingwe and Gor Mahia player.
The official noted that even though the Head of State and the Cabinet Secretary said the donated amount should go towards settling players bonuses, the club leadership had allowed them to share the money as a token.
Leopards players recently went on a strike and threatened not to honour a league match against Vihiga Bullets in Western Kenya following a payment dispute with the management.
It took a last minute intervention for them to honour the fixture which they lost 2-1 at Mumias Complex Stadium.
Consueqnetly, midfielders Eugene Mukangula and Peter Thiong’o were stripped off the captaincy roles after being accused of failing to show leadership during the strike.
The duo whose contract expires at the end of this month, are expected to leave the club.
The players were on strike protesting the decision by the club to pay them 75 percent of their salaries. They demanded the remaining 15 percent which has since been paid but Shikanda says the strike did a lot of damage to the club’s image and its sponsors Betika who have been supporting the club for the last 11 months.
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