AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has opened up on the reasons behind the club not stopping payments to former coach Tomas Trucha despite exiting Ingwe in November.
They say once bitten twice shy and for AFC Leopards, this holds true going by their handling of the departure of Czech coach Thomas Trucha.
Trucha left the club in late November, with the club’s spate of poor results reported as the key reason, but he remains on the club’s payroll even now that the club has confirmed his exit.
There was a silent transfer of responsibilities at the time when he was no longer on the touchline with his assistant Fred Ambani leading the team until Thursday January 23 when his exit was confirmed.
But even with the tactician gone, Leopards, seemingly having learnt from previous experiences, have decided against cutting ties completely, opting to continue paying the tactician, whose deal was to run out in July this year.
Ingwe have been embroiled in a coaching saga as Tomas Trucha’s contract dispute ends with both parties parting amicably.
“He remains the head coach until we finalize the process of parting ways. We have previously made errors or rushed to terminate contracts with our players or coaches, and ended up paying for it dearly,” Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda told Mozzart Sport.
“We do not want to be reported to FIFA again, as it is not easy to win a contract termination case at the Disputes Resolution Chambers.
“Regardless of the terms stipulated in the contract, FIFA recognizes just three valid ways of contract termination and poor results is not one of them,” he added.
Leopards have had their fingers burnt before over contract disputes with former players and coaches who have cost the club millions of shillings.
Former coach Patrick Aussems had Ingwe handed a transfer ban due to over Ksh20 million owed to him by the club while his successor Tom Juma is reported to have sought redress at the Sports Disputes Tribunal over delay in payment of his dues following his sacking in October 2023.
Ingwe have also been slapped with multiple transfer bans over breach of contracts involving former players who reported the club to FIFA and won millions in compensation.
