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AFC Leopards are one of the biggest clubs in the country as they have been successful and dominant since they were formed on March 12, 1964.

Although their success in the Premier League dates back to 1998, long enough for one to question their giant status in the soccer scene, Ingwe, however, cannot be denied their success story over the years.

They have won numerous titles in the country and in the region, and their success has always been propelled by their passionate fan base.

As they turn 60, we look at their history, picking up five interesting facts about the country’s oldest club.

History

The club was formed in 1964 as Abaluhya United Football Club, and in 1973 the club changed its name to Abaluhya Football Club when a number of small clubs amalgamated. In 1980, the club was renamed the AFC Leopards, the name it has held until the present.

The amalgamation saw the dissolution of Marama, Samia United, Bunyore, Kisa, Tiriki, Bukusu Brotherhood, Busamia, Lurambi, Butsotso, Bushibungo, and Eshirotsa into one giant unit that is now AFC Leopards.

Titles

Ingwe are one of the most successful clubs in the Kenyan topflight, alongside Tusker and their traditional nemesis, Gor Mahia.

AFC Leopards have in their cabinet 12 Premier League titles, 10 Kenya Cup titles, and five CECAFA Club Championship titles.

They were top-flight champions in the 1966, 1967, 1970, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, and 1998 seasons, and their campaigns since their last successful shot have been disappointing.

Relegation

AFC Leopards were for the first time in its history, relegated to the second tier.

In 2007, AFC Leopards stayed away from competitive football to contest their relegation before they agreed to play in the Nationwide League and subsequently finished on top to regain promotion to the Kenya Premier League.

Stellar 1970s and 80s

This is the era in which AFC Leopards established itself as one of the football forces to be reckoned with both in Kenya and in the region.

They also produced top players like Mohamed Abbas, Josephat Murila, Pius Masinza, Patrick ‘Omar Bongo’ Shilasi, John ‘Papa’ Arieno, Francis Kadenge, Abdul Barasa, and Wilberforce Mulamba.

1985 CECAFA humiliation

This was a contest that AFC Leopards were widely expected to win the CECAFA title but ended up losing to Gor Mahia in Sudan.

The odds were against Gor Mahia because six of the players were suspended and they did not have a coach, but they ended up winning.

Another factor that pointed to an imminent AFC Leopards victory was that they had beaten K’Ogalo in the 1984 final. In fact, in that year, they managed three wins against Gor Mahia.

But in the 1985 final, K’Ogalo turned the tables against Ingwe as they streamrolled to a 2-0 win.