Former AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda has hit back strongly at current club boss Boniface Ambani, who recently accused the previous administration of leaving behind a financial and structural mess.
Ambani, who took office four months ago, had claimed that Shikanda’s regime was marred by financial mismanagement, unpaid player dues, poor contractual handling, and questionable court cases. He alleged that players’ allowances and signing fees were pocketed, that training ground deals lacked transparency, and that gate collections were misused. Ambani also accused former officials of leaving the club financially crippled and politically compromised.
However, Shikanda has dismissed these accusations as baseless, urging Ambani to focus on rebuilding the club rather than trading blame online. The former chairman questioned whether his successor was truly ready for the leadership mantle, saying genuine leadership requires solutions, not public complaints.
“So many players came and went during my tenure. Kindly produce one who can confirm your allegations,” Shikanda stated, defending his administration’s integrity regarding player payments. He further reminded Ambani that court cases are not a new phenomenon at the club, explaining that his team inherited similar legal battles from as far back as 2013.
According to Shikanda, his administration quietly and professionally resolved over 15 cases during his tenure — an approach he believes current officials should emulate. He challenged Ambani to “bring his A-game, not complaints,” emphasizing the need for unity and progress.
Addressing the claims of “unscrupulous” training ground deals, Shikanda clarified that all payments were handled transparently by the team manager and were made on a need basis. He also defended the use of the Pochi la Biashara system for gate collections, saying it was introduced to prevent fan payment reversals and ensure accountability.
On the issue of debts, Shikanda reminded Ambani that all liabilities were openly discussed during the official handover process, implying that the current chairman’s sudden outrage is misplaced.
As tensions rise between the two leaders, questions remain over who is telling the truth. Meanwhile, Ambani faces pressure to steady the ship on the pitch, with fans calling for coach Fred Ambani’s dismissal after a slow start to the season.
