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New Leopards coach imposes telephone interview ban on his players


AFC Leopards’ new coach Dorian Marian has banned his players from conducting “telephone interviews” with journalists.

The Romanian trainer is expected to take full charge of his first competitive assignment on Saturday, when he leads a depleted Leopards in a league match against Mathare United at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The former Eritrea national team coach has, however, repeatedly refused to speak to scribes who phoned him on Friday, for fear of being misquoted.

Marian told Nairobi News: “My brother, sorry I cannot speak to you right now. My English is not good and it seems my message can be translated wrongly. I will however conduct interviews in training and in the presence of a club official.”

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Marian stance comes amid some sensational quotes attributed to him by sections of the media in the run up to the SportPesa Super Cup final in Tanzania last weekend.

Leopards lost the game 3-0 to arch rivals Gor Mahia, even after Marian had earlier on been quoted saying he “doesn’t fear Gor Mahia” and that he was ready to hand them a thorough beating, just like he did to Harambee Stars while in charge of Eritrea years back.

Leopards are currently placed 12th on the 18 team SportPesa Premier League standings, ahead of a grueling second phase of the competition which ends in November.