Spirited AFC Leopards have defied all odds to emerge the Football Kenya Federation Premier League team of the Week.

The 1998 Kenyan Premier League champions kicked off their new campaign on a winning note, convincingly beating title holders Tusker FC courtesy of Saad Musa’s  solitary goal on Sunday at the Thika Sub County Stadium.

Leopards were in contention with Bandari FC who sunk Mathare United 3-0 at the coast and former champions Gor Mahia who also collected maximum points against last season’s runners up Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) in their league opener last week.

Prior their first outing of the country’s top tier football this campaign, Leopards had a depleted squad with key first team players who featured for the team exited.

A host went for greener pastures elsewhere while others opted not to renew their contracts with the club due to difficult financial times witnessed at the den.

The particular situation forced Ingwee management to turn their eye to the youth team in a bid to fill the voids created by those who ditched the side.

Further, Leopards also took on Tusker without head coach Patrick Aussems who had travelled to his native country Belgium after the completion of last season’s assignments for holiday.

Assistant coach Tom Juma guided the new look AFC Leopards to victory in the face of the star studded Robert Matano’s Brewers, hence sending a powerful signal to other teams in the league.

Meanwhile, Leopards have organized for a funds drive to foot urgent bills as the club grapples with financial constraints.