Leopards to sign Ghanaian striker in bid to revive title hopes
AFC Leopards have agreed a deal in principle to sign Ghanaian striker Gilbert Fiamenyo.
The 24 year-old former Hearts of Oak player is scheduled to arrive in Nairobi Thursday from his current base in Kumasi, and thereafter put pen to paper on a two year deal that has been pre-agreed between the club officials and his representatives.
Leopards coach Ivan Minnaert on Wednesday said he expected the player to be cleared to feature in the SportPesa Premier League immediately, in line with the Fifa rules.
This is despite the fact that the mid-season transfer season in Kenya closed on July 2.
“Listen, the rules allow any player who is a free agent to join the club at any moment. This is a player I know very well, he is strong and you know very well we need another striker at the moment,” Minnaert told Nairobi News.
Leopards seemingly turned to the burly Fiamenyo – who’s also turned out for Swedish club Djuargardens IF – as an alternative, having failed to lure Malian hotshot Ismailia Diarra to the den last month.
Leopards officials had announced that a deal was in place for Diarra to join Leopards when his contract with Rwandan club Rayon Sport lapses on July 17.
The 24 year-old however had a last minute change of heart and opted to remain in Kigali having renewed his contract with the Nyanza Province based club.
If the deal is completed, Fiamenyo is set to battle Mungai Kiongera, John “Softie” Ndirangu and Kepha Aswani for the two striking positions upfront at Leopards, who are currently ranked 9th on the 16 team Kenyan Premier League log.