AFC Leopards paraded new signings during the club’s gala dinner organised by one of their supporters branches at a Nairobi hotel on Wednesday to celebrate and reflect on the team’s performance last season.

Leopards finished fifth in the 2023-24 FKF Premier League season won by arch rivals Gor Mahia for a record 21st time.

It was another disappointing campaign for Ingwe, the league’s oldest and third most successful club, as their league drought extended to 26 years.

In a bid to bury the jinx and go for the top prize next season which begins this weekend, the club has made notable signings to help fix areas they believe did not tick in the team.

The new faces include former Kariobangi Sharks forward Sydney Lokale and South Sudan national team skipper Peter Manyang Mabok Maker, who is a defender. The 12-time Kenyan champions have also roped in Julius Masaba and Samuel Semo.

“We have done our analysis and in terms of goals conceded, we were second to champions Gor Mahia, however, when it came to goals scored we were a distant tenth. It means striking was our main undoing and we’ve purposed to fix that,” Leopards chairman explained.

“We have allowed Gor Mahia to dominate because as Leopards we have shied away from taking our rightful place in Kenyan football,” Shikanda.

While promising to go for the title next season, Shikanda pleaded with the fans to rally behind the team. “We need all of you throughout the season. A league is a marathon, it doesn’t end after the first match, but after the 34th fixture.”

Shikanda who played for both Gor Mahia and Leopards during his heydays implored every stakeholder to do their part for the team to succeed. “We didn’t go all the way to Czech to sign a coach for us to start telling him what to do, when I was young I could change things on the field, but now I can only ask the players to do so. I can only wish. So let’s all do our part in this success we’re building.”

He believes that a slow start to last season, especially the first ten games, hampered their chances of competing for the title, something they’d like to avoid this time.