AFC Leopards Toronto FC with the Pamoja Soccer Tournament Runners Up trophy won in Canada at the weekend!/KCA
As Canada prepares to co-host the 2026 Fifa World Cup in Toronto and Vancouver, football enthusiasm continues to surge nationwide, inspiring new clubs, community competitions and emerging talent.

One team benefiting from this momentum is AFC Leopards Toronto FC, a Kenyan diaspora side whose rapid rise was highlighted by a runners-up finish at the third edition of the Pamoja Soccer Tournament, held over the weekend at the Brampton Soccer Centre in Ontario.

Founded just last year, AFC Leopards Toronto made an immediate statement in their tournament debut, storming into the final of the annual community competition organised by the Kenyan Canadian Association (KCA).The final attracted a capacity crowd as Leopards faced the experienced Zanzibar Heroes, who were chasing their first title after finishing second in both the 2023 and 2024 editions.

The two sides were evenly matched in an entertaining first half that ended 2-2. However, Zanzibar’s experience proved decisive after the break, as they scored four unanswered goals to secure a convincing 6-2 victory.

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Despite the loss, AFC Leopards Toronto captain Gabriel Warunga praised his team’s effort and resilience.

“We put up a spirited fight despite the teething challenges we are facing as a team. Reaching the final in our debut appearance is a big achievement,” Warunga said.

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He credited the team’s success to teamwork, discipline and determination, noting that they had overcome limited funding and logistical constraints.

“With sustained focus, we believe we can win the tournament next season,” he added.

Warunga also appealed to KCA leadership to engage municipalities across the Greater Toronto Area to help teams access free training facilities.

“Most of our players live within the GTA. Access to training fields would strengthen the team and help us nurture young talent,” he said.

Zanzibar Heroes captain Ali Faki attributed their breakthrough victory to improved organisation and lessons learned from previous near misses.

“After finishing second twice, we went back to the drawing board and addressed our weaknesses. That preparation gave us the edge in this tense final,” Faki said.

Zanzibar Heroes also dominated the individual awards, with Mohammed Mohammed named Most Valuable Player, Ahmed Mohammed Ali claiming the Golden Boot after scoring a hat-trick in the final, and Mwinyi Mwinyi winning the Golden Glove.

“The tournament is organised by KCA, and we are grateful to partners such as the City of Brampton and Pamoja Canada Diaspora Sacco for supporting the football showcase and ensuring its success,” said KCA president Ephraim Mwaura.

The tournament’s inaugural edition in 2023 was won by Kenyan side Wazalendo FC, while ECCC Club of Eritrea lifted the title in 2024.