Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
Francis Wadegu
29 July 2011
TEENAGE striker Emmanuel Tostao has launched a sensational bid to quit AFC Leopards over what he termed as circumstances that are detrimental to his playing career. “Every player always wants to get some playing time on the field but that has not been the case for me despite my efforts in training and on the field,” said the 18-year-old under-20 international.
The youngster, who joined Leopards at the start of the current season, has scored one goal for the 12-time league champions and has been linked with moves to clubs abroad. However, the latest development will leave many astonished as to what actually is in store for the former Copa Coca Cola tournament top scorer. “My dream was always to play for Leopards but signs at the club are that I am surplus to requirements.
The club have signed four players in my position and that simply means I will find it hard to get time on the field,” said the former Mathare Youth tean striker, whose time at the club has been hampered by the frequent change of coaches and the recent signings of accomplished strikers including Mike Barasa, Francis Chinjili and Jimmy Bageya.
Tostao revealed that he has talked to the club officials about his intended departure and he is even willing to wait until next season in order to get his chance to play for another club. “I have told the team manager my decision and hopefully, they will be reasonable enough and hand me my release papers so that I can start looking for another team,” he said.
The striker said Leopards fierce rivals Gor Mahia had previously shown the intentions of signing him up, only for them to be time barred. But now Tostao is more than willing to join them. “Gor would be my preferred destination because I know the coach well and there are players who I have played with at junior levels,” he explained. Tostao was not included in the Leopards side that was due to face Western Stima in a Kenya Premier League match yesterday evening.
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