Kenyan Premier League side AFC Leopards are set to cut 11 players once the 2018 season comes to a close on Sunday October 7, according to the club’s Secretary General.
The team have dropped from third to sixth following a recent bad run, while the club have also endured upheaval on the bench, with Argentinian tactician Rodolfo Zapata leaving and being replaced by his assistant Tom Juma.
The club are set to restructure ahead of 2018-2019 season, and among their priorities is a reduction of the playing staff.
The current squad consists of 31 players and, according to club Secretary General Oscar Igaida, next season’s squad will consist of only 25 players.
“We are making changes,” Igaida told KweséESPN. “We are restructuring, because we do not want to have a bloated squad again, we need to have players who can help the team.
“We are reducing the number of players from the current 31 to 25 players.”
Igaida further revealed that the club will make five new signings and part ways with 11 current players.
“Unlike in the past, we are going to make few signings, five to be precise,” he added. “We are working based on the report we got from the technical bench led by our former coach, Rodolfo.
“It means we will have part ways with 11 of our current players,” Igaida continued. “Some will not be offered new contracts once their current ones expire at the end of the year.
“Some will be granted permission to speak to other clubs because there’s no point in keeping them here yet they are not in our coach’s plans.”
Leopards have won 13 Kenyan titles, and are the second most successful team in the nation’s top flight.