Defender Lewis Esambe Bandi has been named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) during the AFC Leopards awards gala held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Bungoma County.

Bandi’s footballing career started at Makadara Junior League (MJL), where he continued to sharpen his skills before joining the AFC Leopards Youth team, where he featured in the KPL U-20 tournament.

The versatile defender was promoted to the senior team in 2020 under coach Tomas Trucha and Anthony Kimani and made his debut against KCB on January 17, 2021.

Twelve-time Kenya Premier League champions AFC Leopards named Bandi as the MVP, followed by Mouso Oundo and Levis Opiyo.

Other winners

Mousa Oundo scooped the award for the best midfielder, followed by Boniface Munyendo and the promising young talent Kelly Madada, settling for third place.

Ovella Ochieng’s stunning long-range free kick that went viral was voted as the best goal of the season during the awards gala. With the game tied at 1-1, the Leopards received a free kick in the 21st minute from a long way out.

The ball was just a bit far away from the halfway line, but that did not stop Ovella Ochieng from trying his luck. He struck a powerful shot that flew into the top corner from such a long range, leaving the KCB goalkeeper clueless.

Ochieng also capped off his goal with an amazing acrobatic celebration, with his strike inspiring his side to get a big win over the bankers.

Here is the full list of winners

𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 (𝐌𝐕𝐏)
1.Lewis Bandi
2.Mouso Oundo
3.Levis Opiyo

𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫
1.Mousa Oundo
2.Boniface Munyendo
3.Kelly Madada

𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫
1.Lewis Bandi
2.Kennedy Owino
3.Randy Bakari

𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐬’ 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫
1.Bonface Munyendo
2.Cliff Miheso
3.Victor Omune

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫
1.Randy Bakari
2.Ronald Sichenje

𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧
Ovella Ochieng

𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧
1.Ronald Sichenje
2.Victor Omune
3.Victor Otieno

𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫
Collins Kasembeli – Bungoma Branch

𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫
Moureen

𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝.
1.Embakasi South Branch
2.Excecutive Branch
3.Bungoma Branch