Former AFC Leopards coach Jan Koops has begged the club to pay him his arrears as he continues to battle a life-threatening condition. Koops was first diagnosed with a heart condition in 2004 when he was fitted with a pacemaker to regularize his heartbeat.
The pacemaker was supposed to be replaced within six to eight years, but the Dutch tactician has had his for 20 years now. The retired coach is now pleading with Leopards’ hierarchy to pay him his arrears so that he can get medical help.
Sometimes the pain is unbearable, sometimes not very bad. I have a heart problem, and I can’t live without a pacemaker
Koops, who has since settled in Busia, managed AFC Leopards for two different spells. He first arrived in the country in 2009. He signed a two-year contract with Ingwe and stayed at the club between 2011 and 2013, earning 110,000 monthly.
He then returned for a second spell in January 2016, but the club terminated his contract in August of that year.
The 83-year-old argues that Ingwe owes him 9.017 million, including interest from both contracts. He has tried reaching out to the club chairman, Dan Shikanda, to no avail.
“It would be fair if AFC Leopards recognized the urgency of the situation and responded instead of remaining silent,” he told the Daily Nation.
Koops’ veins are also failing, leading to wounds on his lower limbs. However, he can’t be treated until he is fitted with a new pacemaker. He has declined to seek legal redress at the moment as he hopes the club will respond to his pleas soon.
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