"Old man, Juju man!" AFC Leopards’ Aussems takes jibe at Matano

© AFC Leopards

FOOTBALL "Old man, Juju man!" AFC Leopards’ Aussems takes jibe at Matano

Kiplagat Sang • 18:29 - 06.04.2023

Aussems claims comes a day after Ingwe lost in the stoppage time to Tusker.

After a tense Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL)match at the Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday, AFC Leopards' head coach Patrick Aussems has hit back at Tusker’s Robert Matano.

The reigning league champions claimed a late goal that handed them a 1-0 victory, and Aussems, while complaining of a lack of aggression on the part of Ingwe, chose to take a jibe at Matano.

"Unfortunately, we have been punished at the last minute due to a lack of aggression! Congratulations to the players of Tusker," the Belgian coach tweeted.

"Of course, l won't talk about an old coach with no international experience who is more of a djudju [Juju] man than a tactician... one could learn."

Juju can refer to a belief system involving the use of magical powers.

Although Juju is understood to be practiced in West African countries such as Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana, its assumptions are shared by most Africans.

After the match, Aussems and Matano were seen engaging in an almost physical confrontation and had to be separated by the officials from both clubs.

It is also claimed the tacticians hurled insults at each other after the game, whose result might play a critical role in the title race.

In February, Aussems had to defend himself after he was accused of calling a journalist stupid after their match against Nzoia Sugar at Sudi Stadium.

"You, you are stupid, my friend," the former Simba SC coach then responded when he was asked why he did not leave the field of play after he was given a red card.

It was not Aussems who received the card, though; it was AFC Leopards’ goalkeeping coach Lawrence Webo who had been red-carded.

While the loss saw AFC Leopards drop to fifth on the log from the third, Tusker closed the gap on Gor Mahia.

At 42 points, Tusker are just four points below the league leaders, K'Ogalo, who picked up a point from their goalless draw against Sofapaka.