By Kenneth Wepukhulu
Six new categories have been added into the second edition of the AFC Leopards Gala awards a landmark event set to honor outstanding players, fan and branch whose contributions have defined the 2024/25 season. scheduled for July 26, 2025 at the Masinde Muliro Stadium, Kanduyi in Bungoma County.
Sponsored and Organized by the U45 Unit Branch, the new categories include best goal scored, and the best midfielder, defender, attacker and female fan.
The inaugural award gala featured five categories including Player of the Season, Top Scorer, Most Improved Player, Young Player of the Season, Fans’ Player of the Year, Club Legend Awards, and Special Recognition Awards for long-serving officials and sponsors.
A five-member panel of respected football voices and analysts and individuals known for their deep connection to the local game will oversee the nomination process and picking the best in each category.
They include Gregory Mulemi, a lifelong Ingwe supporter and sports journalist, Jos Khadongo, the club’s video analyst and Joseph Kwanya, a radio presenter who is also known for hosting FKF Premier League Spaces on X (Twitter). Others are sports journalists Dollar Khagali and Brian Odhiambo.
The newly elected AFC Leopards executive consisting Kenyas ex international and former Ingwe striker Boniface Ambani, Isaac Mulindi (Secretary General) and treasurer Newton Lime graced the events press briefing where they gave a thumbs up to awards gala.
They endorsed it and said that they will continue supporting the initiative and called on other partners to come on board.
The officials said the gala will be used as a recruitment drive in increasing the clubs membership and also have the Ingwe merchandise being sold to fans.
Olympia Musonye, the Chairperson of U45 Branch, passionately articulated their decision as a branch to sponsor AFC Leopards in this prestigious award ceremony.
“As the U45 Branch, we decided to organize the AFC Leopards Gala Awards to celebrate players’ individual accomplishments, both on and off the field, with the goal of inspiring the team as they prepare for the upcoming season. Although the club did not win any trophies last year, we had players who performed exceptionally well, as well as fans and branches who demonstrated outstanding support and contributions in the season. Recognizing these achievements is essential. We aim to make this gala an ongoing tradition in the AFC Leopards calendar”