What a contrast in fortunes in the President's Cup matches on Saturday. One a quarterfinal, the other a semi-final first round match.

AFC Leopards, despite a modest start to the season, and a persistent leadership tussle, turned on the class to crush Kangemi United 3-0 in a quarter-final clash.

Ulinzi Stars, the early season form team, surprisingly went down 0-2 to less fancied Chemelil Sugar in the President's Cup semi-finals and have their work cut out for them in the second leg.

Leopards were inspired by the position awareness of striker Jack Omondi. Twice he found himself at the right place at the right time to dish out punishment.

But one sensed the real difference in Leopards was made by the presence of midfielder Ramadhan Balala, making a return to the club after a professional stint in Oman.

Balala, a trialist with Harambee Stars, scored the third goal and raised the general standard of his team's play. Such was his contribution that those who have been watching Leopards in recent days may have wondered if indeed this was the same team they had been watching.

Leopards can now look forward with legitimate optimism to making the final.

They play untested Securicor in the semi-final. The first leg is on Saturday and the return match on November 1.

But all this hangs under a cloud.

Registered club chairman Voltaire Kegode has said the players wearing the club's colours and playing in the President's Cup are doing so illegallysince the officials running that team are not mandated by law to do so.

"We shall play by the rule of law and you can anticipate legal action soon,"Kegode said yesterday.

He has already written to the Kenya Football Federation warning them of legal action if they continue dealing with a group of people who say they are running AFC Leopards.

Former AFC Leopards players including Joe Kadenge, Joe Masiga, Mike Amwayi, Micky Weche, George Olubendi have offered to mediate.

"I want an amicable solution. But there must be respect for the legitimate office of the club," Kegode said. 

Kegode withdrew AFC Leopards from the KFF to join 10 other rebel clubs in forming another league.

Meanwhile Ulinzi have cried foul over their loss to Chemelil Sugar.

"We were frustrated by the bad officiating. We had several situations where we were in good scoring positions only for offside to be called against us," a club official said.

Chemelil scored through James Okal and Dennis Ochieng' and will feel the two goals can be defended.

Ulinzi vowed to turn the tables on the sugarmen in the return match to be played on Saturday at Nakuru's Afraha Stadium.

The final will be held on November 8.

Winners will represent Kenya in the African Cup Winners Cup.

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