The 1960s: The Good Beginnings
From the 1960s or even earlier; the notion and formation of various Abaluyia teams for invitational matches became the forerunner of what eventually would become Abaluhya United. The East African Standard Newspaper published a report on the birth of a club called ABALUHYA UNITED F.C. which resulted from the amalgamation of Marama, Samia united and Bunyore; all Nairobi based clubs that were in Division 1 of the Kenya Nation Football League. The amalgamation process also included lower division clubs such as Kisa, Tiriki, Bukusu Brotherhood, Busamia, Lurambi, Butsotso, Bushibungo and Eshirotsa thus building its base and establishments that would make it a success in the future. This was reported in the newspaper on 12th March 1964, making it our official birthday
1964: The club is founded under the name Abaluhya United FC
1964: The club wins its first trophy; the Ahsan Cup after beating Muslim 3-2. This was followed with another trophy later in the year when we beat Luo Union F.C.2-1 and lifted the Saba-Saba Cup which was introduced to mark Tanganyika’s Independence Day.
1964: Abaluhya beat the visiting Third Battalion Parachute Regiment from England 2-1 in their first international match ever. The scorers were Elishah Shabasinya and Joe Kadenge
1966: Abaluhya wins the Haile Selassie Cup
1966: Abaluhya claim their first Kenya National Football League Championship.
1967: The club completes a double, becoming the first club to win the national league twice consecutively and completes a double by winning the FA Cup of Kenya.
1967: Abaluhya wins the Allsopps Cup after beating Sunderland of Tanzania 5 – 0 in the final match at the Nairobi City Stadium.
1968: Abaluhya wins the FA Cup of Kenya for the second time in a row.
1968: A special Kenya Select XI which had all the eleven players picked from Abaluhya beat the Zambia national team 2 – 1.
1968: Abaluhya bow out of the African Club Cup Championship semi-final after losing to Etoile Filante Shooting Stars of Togo on a 2 – 4 aggregate.
The 1970s: Legacy Building
This was a period of the club’s sustained performance pushed the Club to more fame and paved the way for a future glorious era.
1970: Abaluhya won the Olympic Cup soccer tournament that was organized to raise funds for the Kenya Commonwealth Games team. They beat Gor Mahia 2-1-in the final match.
1970: Abaluhya won the Nairobi Provincial Football Association League.
1970: Abaluhya won Jamhuri Cup by beating Kenya Breweries 2-1.
1970: Abaluhya beat Asante Kotoko 1 – 0 in a friendly match at Nairobi City Stadium.
1971: Abaluhya are knocked out of the Africa Club Cup Championship by Accra Great Olympics of Ghana on a 3 – 1 aggregate.
1971: Abaluhya won the belated 1970 K.N.F.L. with an unbeaten record and became the first Kenya club to do so; in 19 matches they won 17 drew 2 and crowned it with 54 goals for and only 4 goals against.
1972: Abaluhya won the Nairobi Provincial Football Association League.
1973: The name of the club changed from ABALUYHA UNITED F.C. to ABALUHYA F.C.
1973: Abaluhya won the Pope Paul Cup in Kampala when they beat, defending champions, Buganda 3 – 1 through goals by David Asibwa, Vincent Mwenje, and Joe Kadenge.
1973: Abaluhya won the Nairobi Provincial Football Association League with a 100 per cent record. They never lost a single point.
1973: Abaluhya won the Mayor’s Cup by beating Kenya Prisons 4 -0 in the final.
1973: Abaluhya beat Asante Kotoko 2 – 1 in a friendly match at Nairobi City Stadium.
1973: Abaluhya won the 1973 K.N.F.L with yet another unbeaten record.
1974: Abaluhya drew 0 – 0 with the Congo (Brazzaville) national team who were on a buildup tour to prepare to defend the Africa Cup of Nations which they won in 1973.
1974: Abaluhya decided not to participate in the Kenya Football League.
1974: Abaluhya finish runners-up to Simba Sports Club of Tanzania in the inaugural East and Central Africa Club Cup championship.
1974: Abaluhya are eliminated from the Africa Club Cup Championship by Mehalla of Egypt at the quarter-final stage.
1975: Abaluhya return to the Kenya National Football League.
1976: Abaluhya won the Mayor’s Cup after beating Black Mamba 2 -1 in the final match.
1977: Abaluhya F.C. was registered, under section 10 of the Societies Act.
1978: Abaluhya beat Maragoli 2-1 to win the Mayor’s Cup.
1979: Abaluhya beat Kampala City Council 1 – 0 to win the East and Central Africa Club Championship. This also earned them both Guinness Stout Effort Award and the Orbitsports Award for the month of February 1979.
1979: Abaluhya F.C. was registered, under the Societies Act.
1979: Abaluhya beat Black Stars, the Ghana national team, 1 – 0 through a 60th minute goal by Joe Masiga in a friendly match at Nairobi City Stadium. Black Stars were then the reigning African Nations Cup champions.
The 1980s: The Golden Era
Business as usual as Leopards marked the 80s by bring more silverware to the Den marking an unprecedented period of dominance majorly in the domestic and regional scene.
1980: Abaluhya FC changed name to AFC Leopards Sports Club.
1980: AFC Leopards claimed the league title in the 19th round still unbeaten. From their last 5 matches they won 1, drew 1 and lost 3.
1981: AFC Leopards clinches league title once more.
1982: the Club lifts the East and Central Africa Clubs Cup beating Rio Tinto from Zimbabwe in the final.
1982: AFC Leopards clinches league title for the third year running.
1983: In Zanzibar, AFC Leopards claim their second outright success in the East and Central Africa Club championships with a 2-1 win over Malawi’s Admarc Tigers.
1983: Finished third in the year’s national football league.
1984: The 2-1 win over Gor Mahia gives ‘ingwe’ their fourth CECAFA Club championship and the third one in a row.
1984: AFC Leopards clinches the Kenya Challenge Cup
1985: AFC Leopards reach the East and Central Club Cup final once more but lose 2-0 to Gor Mahia.
1985: The Leopards defeat El-Merreikh of sudan over two legs in African Cup Winners Cup, winning the opener in Nairobi’s Nyayo 2-0 before suffering a 2-1 defeat in Sudan.
1985: Lifts the Kenya Challenge Cup for the second time.
1985: Finished runners up in the national football league.
1985: Wilberforce Mulamba produces a magnificent performance to inspire Leopards to an African Cup Winners Cup quarter final success with victory over Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko at Nyayo stadium. The mercurial midfielder hits a superb double to lead ingwe to a thoroughly deserved 5 – 4 victory on penalties.
1986: Eliminated Vital’ O of Burundi in the Cup Winners’ Cup 1986 on a 2 -1 aggregate; after drawing 1 -1 and winning 1 – 0 in the return leg in Nairobi
1986: Won the national football league with an unbeaten record, scoring the highest number of goals; 96 goals and conceding only 21 goals.
1986: Ingwe reach the last four of the East and Central Africa Club championship held in Tanzania before bowing out to El-Merreikh of Sudan through an extra time goal and eventually settling for bronze after beating Zambia’s Mufulira Wanderers 1- 0.
1986: The Leopards were knocked out of the CAF Cup Winners’ Cup falling to Kalamu FC of Zaire (DRC) after a 1 -1 draw in Nairobi and losing 1 – 3 in the return match in Lubumbashi.
1988: Won the national football league remaining unbeaten all season.
1989: AFC Leopards was once again crowned league champions. They also reach the Moi Golden Cup final but lose to Kenya Breweries 4 – 5 on penalties after a 1 – 1 draw in regular time.
The 1990s: The New Era
Achievements became less frequent, although in general the team continued to win some championships thus never suffering a considerable title drought.
1990: Finished second in the national football league.
1991: Ingwe finishes third in the national football league.
1991: The Leopards beat arch-rivals Gor Mahia, 1 – 0, to win the Moi Golden Cup at the Nyayo Stadium
1992: Ingwe clinch a 7-0 victory over Transcom in the final round of matches and secure the league title.
1993: another third place finish in the national league.
1994: A 3-0 victory over Kisumu Posta 3-0 ensures another Moi Golden Cup title
1997: Sierra Leonean, James Kayimba, hits a magnificent goal as AFC Leopards claim a record fifth East and Central Champions Club Cup success at the expense of Kenya Breweries at Nyayo Stadium.
1997; Ingwe suffer s Moi Golden Cup final heartbreak at the hands of Eldoret KCC losing 1 -4
1998: Club finishes three points ahead of challengers Mumias Sugar to win the national football league.
1999: Complete the decade by finishing second in the national football league
The 2000s: Little success and decline
The beginning of dismal campaigns for the following 10 years, including relegation from the top tier. However, the club’s strong team spirit, the goals of its founders, its relatively stable support base; ensured the club is rejuvenated.
2000: Agony for ingwe fans as Leopards lose the Moi Golden Cup final at the hands of Mathare United.
2001: Leopards claim another outright success in the Moi Golden Cup with a 2-0 win over Mathare United – a team that had shocked us the previous year to win the trophy.
2003: AFC Leopards lose the Moi Golden Cup final, suffering a 0-1 defeat to Chemilil Sugar.
2006: For the first time in its history the club is relegated to the second tier.
2007: AFC Leopards stays away from competitive football to contest the relegation.
2008: Club agrees to play in the second tier Nationwide League and subsequently finishes on top to regain promotion to the Kenya Premier League.
2009: The 4 – 1 win over Congo United from Mombasa the Leopards another national knock out trophy renamed FKL Cup.
2010: AFC Leopards bows out in the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup after falling on a 3 – 4 aggregate to Ethiopia’s Banks FC.
