AFC Leopards head coach Rodolfo Zapata has been dismissed and not suspended as reports from the club indicate.
Zapata was absent as Leopards took on Ulinzi Stars at Afraha Stadium on Sunday 30 September as AFC Leopards lost 2-1 to Ulinzi Stars.
His assistant Tom Juma was in charge, aided by Team Manager Gilbert Selebwa and goalkeeping coach Mathews Owino.
Leopards midfielder has hinted that the coach will not be back to the team through his tweet that wished him well in his future endeavors.
“Respect – Thank you for what you have done for us at AFC Leopards. I’m grateful for everything you’ve taught me and all the trust you’ve put in me no matter how difficult the situation was. All the best coach to the next stop,” he tweeted.
Ulinzi Stars pipped AFC Leopards to move to third on the log after handing them their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions following a 2-1 win at the Afraha Stadium, Nakuru on Sunday 30th September.
second-minute goal by Elvis Nandwa handed Ulinzi a precious early lead while Duncan Otieno restored parity for Leopards but a late goal by Enosh Ochieng downed Ingwe.
AFC Leopards were looking to put a plug to their free fall end to the season having lost three consecutive games before the game in all competitions and had the worst possible start, going down to a second-minute goal from Elvis Nandwa. The midfielder has had the season of his life after grabbing his 12th goal of the campaign.
The goal woke up Leopards who were managerless after parting ways with Rodolfo Zapata as Tom Juma took over duties on the touchline. Whyvonne Isuza got two brilliant chances to restore parity for Ingwe inside the opening 10 minutes but failed to capitalize on the chances. Ulinzi could easily have made Leopards rue their missed chances when Masuta Masita had the ball at the back of the net but was ruled out for offside.
Ghanaian defender Isaac Oduro went close with his free kick in the 27th minute but it veered off the mark. Masuta almost doubled Ulinzi’s lead just at the stroke of the half-hour mark but his headed effort found the crossbar.
Ulinzi picked up from where they left from in the second half and went close again with a long-range effort from Hassan Mohamed but his thunderbolt went over the bar. Leopards restored parity through their trusted skipper Duncan Ochieng in the 50th minute. Substitute Enosh Ochieng who came on for Masita Masuta got straight into the thick of things as he missed a glorious chance to hand the lead back to Ulinzi in the 61st minute.
Enosh was just getting warmed up as he nodded in the winner in the 81st minute from a pinpoint cross from Cliff Kasuti to hand Ulinzi the lead. Ulinzi held on for the win as they move to third following Sofapaka’s 2-2 draw with Nakumat