Ambani brothers: Club boss and coach chase destiny with AFC Leopards

“That is the moment I knew I wanted to become a footballer. The players looked so clean and neat. Their kits had no creases. I approached Nicholas Lukati and asked him if I could touch his kit. I was that star struck,” Ambani, now in his 40s and the coach of 12-time Kenyan champions AFC Leopards, recalls.

Ambani went on to feature for Rivatex, AFC Leopards, Oserian Fastac, AC Nakuru, Kenya Pipeline, Chemelil Sugar, Brooke Bond, and Omani clubs Nizwa and Salala.

Read: Leopards coach Ambani proud of his derby record

He is better remembered for his exploits with AFC Leopards and defunct Oserian. He was also part of the AFC Leopards squad that won the club’s last league title in 1998, before joining a star-studded Oserian team that won the 2001 and 2002 Premiership league titles.

Ambani was the league’s top scorer when AFC Leopards won the league in 1998. He reflects on that triumph with great reverence for the club’s then chairman, the late Francis Chahonyo, and older teammates who kept him and his strike partner, his younger brother Boniface, disciplined and focused.

He describes Chahonyo as “one of the most impactful chairmen AFC Leopards has ever had.”

“He cared about players and their welfare. He raised standards at the club to a point where every player in the country wanted to play for the club. May God bless his soul,” Ambani says.

“That 1998 team had no-nonsense leaders in players like Agrippa Nyanje, Francis Oduor, and Paul Ochieng’. They used to lecture me and Boniface against complacency. They knew our value to the team, and they kept us grounded so that we do not lose focus,” says Ambani.

Yet, discipline and focus came naturally to Ambani and his brother. He and six siblings grew up in military barracks, at Kahawa and later Nanyuki, environments that made them “appreciate the importance of community, discipline and hardwork.”

“Our father was a military officer, but at home, our mother was the real military lady. She was very strict and instilled discipline in us. Also, community parenting was the norm in the barracks then. So there was no licence for kids to misbehave because they could be punished by any adult,” Ambani says.

Ambani’s further recollection of his childhood comes with criticism of the current state of urban planning in Nairobi, a process guided by unregulated construction of high-rise apartments and land use that is destructive to the environment and the quality of life.

“I grew up around a lot of space, which helped me hone my football skills. Nowadays, there are buildings and developments all over and kids are left with little or no space to play,” Ambani moans.

As grown-ups, Ambani and his younger brother Boniface had an opportunity to join the military after Ulinzi Stars attempted to sign them when they were playing for AFC Leopards.

“Boniface and I turned down Ulinzi. We did not fancy a career in the military or think of life after football,” Ambani said. 

“Our sister Alexina and brother Vincent, however, joined the military and played handball and basketball, respectively. Sports has made our family name more known despite our father having a distinguished military career,” Ambani says of his family’s sporting legacy.

Ambani described his stint with Oserian as “akin to life in a military camp.”

“The club was based in a calm, serene, and isolated place. All we ever did was wake up and train,” Ambani says, shifting the conversation to the differences in recreational activities now and during his playing days.

Ambani is concerned about modern-day footballers “sleeping less” and “spending too much time on their phones.”

“It is tough to get players to get enough sleep nowadays. Social media is taking up so much of their time, and there is less bonding between them. During my days, we would read books or play board games and darts during our free time. Those habits have since faded,” Ambani says.

Coaching career

He spends his free time much like he did when he was a player.

“If I am not tending to my business, I would be watching my children play or reading and researching new coaching trends. I like doing things that keep me off social media as much as possible,” he says.

Ambani has taken notice of Kenyan teams making quick transitions in play and scoring from set-pieces.

“Nowadays, teams want to get the ball forward faster and play in the opponent’s half more. They try to win fouls and corners which create opportunities to score from corners. It is becoming hard to score goals and set-pieces are now seen as a short-cut to the net,” Ambani says.

The former international got into coaching shortly after his playing career ended.

“I broke my hand while playing for Chemelil Sugar. The surgery was not done correctly and that set back my recovery. I retired soon after that and ventured into business. I started a nightclub in Pipeline, Embakasi, but abandoned that venture when, through a contact of Boniface, I got an opportunity to coach Keroka Technical Training Institute,” Ambani says.

Read: Ambani, Mihic rue striker shortage in 'Mashemeji' derby draw

He considers the then Keroka Technical Training Institute Principal Evans Bosire as one of the greatest influences on his fledgling coaching career.

“He supported me a lot and provided a good working environment. I did so well with the team that the institution’s enrolment shot from 100 students to 800 in just one year.”

Others, who supported his young coaching career are Zoo FC chairman Ken Were and former Wazito chairman Solomon Alubala.

“Were was also patient with me while I was at Zoo FC and when an opportunity came to coach Nakumatt FC, he gave me his blessings. Alubala helped enrol me for coaching courses and funded my education despite my not coaching his team. He never asked for anything in return, and when Wazito got a sponsor, he appointed me to coach the team on very good terms,” Ambani says.

He left Wazito in September 2022 after the club’s ownership changed without his knowledge.

“I had no idea that the club was being sold despite those involved in the process being people who were very close to me,” he says.

He returned to coaching in July 2023 as AFC Leopards assistant coach to Tom Juma.

“Juma and I had a great working relationship. He gave me freedom to conduct training sessions and trusted my judgment,” Ambani says.

Ambani was appointed the interim AFC Leopards coach In November 2024, following the exit of Thomas Trucha. He described that appointment as a “great feeling”.

“As a former player of the club, it is an honour to coach the team,” he says.

He has come under severe criticism from fans, some whom have called for his resignation, including sending warning letters to him over the team’s poor performance.

“The fans have a right to speak. Being criticised is part of the job but I should not lose focus because of what people say about me,” says Ambani, who keeps off social media to guard himself against “negative energy”.

He was confirmed as Leopards’ coach in September 2025, just three months after Boniface was elected club chairman.

“I do not think it has ever happened before in Kenyan football. A club having brothers as chairman and coach,” Ambani says.

“After he became chairman, we had a meeting where we agreed on communication channels. I communicate to him through the club’s team manager and official channels set by the club. We keep it professional,” says Ambani.

The two brothers won the league with AFC Leopards in 1998.

“Boniface and I played together at Rivatex, AFC Leopards, and Oserian. I see our reunion as God’s plan to bring glory back to AFC Leopards. It will be quite something if we deliver a league title. That will truly cement our place in the history of the club,” says Ambani.