- Robinson Kamura, AFC Leopards captain believes their long-awaited return to Nyayo Stadium for their home matches will be an inspiration as they seek a two-decade Kenyan Premier League title drought.
Leopards last won the league in 1998. They resulted in playing their home matches at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos County, and Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County from the time the facility was closed three years ago.
Kamura with some company spoke after receiving Sh300 000 donation from football enthusiast Eliud Owalo.
The centre half said with the government set to open the stadium for use shortly, the club will reap big in terms of support from fans.
“There are a host of things which motivate a player on match days and playing at home is one of them. Gauging by the past years, playing at Nyayo has been like a ritual and the results have been commendable. The stadium is accessible to our fans whom I believe will motivate us to start winning the trophies,” the defender told.
“The new office is operating in a professional way and it’s a plus for the players. Every team plays to win the title and for us to make the difference, we have to press the gas pedal from the onset. The fans are positive and we have to work hard and deliver the trophy and return to the continental scene,” former Mathare United star said.
Harambee Stars defender regretted that coronavirus pandemic had hindered negatively the financial source of most players whom he challenged to look beyond football to make ends meet. He also revealed that the club will need at least six to seven weeks of pre-season training to sharpen their skills.
“It has been tough for footballers especially those who solely depend on it for a living. We need at least six to seven weeks of intense training to prepare us for the new season. It will be a different pre-season since we have been off action for more than four months but the only advantage is that the challenge cuts across hence all teams will start from the same level,” he said.
