Published on July 8, 2026 by Kariuki Mwangi
Last Updated on 3 weeks by Kariuki Mwangi
There is no more trouble between newly appointed Nairobi United Coach Patrick Aussems and KCB FC head coach Robert Matano, after Nairobi City County Governor Johnson Sakaja brokered a truce between the two tacticians ahead of the 2026/2027 Sportpesa Premier League season.
Reconciliation between the two coaches was reached during a meeting held in Governor Sakaja’s office, which was attended by both coaches and several other top-ranking officials in the Nairobi United hierarchy.
In a major statement of Nairobi United’s intent ahead of the new season, the ambitious Sportpesa Premier League contenders Nairobi United officially secured the services of the veteran Belgian tactician as their new head coach, signaling the club’s aggressive pursuit of domestic dominance and an increasing professionalization of East African football, capable of attracting elite European coaching talent.
Aussems, highly respected for his previous tenure with AFC Leopards immediately assumed control of the former FKF Cup champions, replacing Godfrey ‘Solo’ Oduor, who stabilized the team throughout the previous season following the abrupt departure of Nicholas Muyoti. The Belgian will be assisted by former Kenyan international Osbourne Monday, who transitioned to the technical bench last month after a stint with Shabana FC.
The KCB FC head coach Matano and Aussems, a former AFC Leopards coach, were embroiled in a bitter rivalry, sparked by a 2023 Kenya Premier League match. Following a 1-0 defeat to Matano’s side, Aussems branded Matano a “juju man” (witch doctor) with no international experience, resulting in an active defamation lawsuit that was sensationally filed by Matano against Aussems.
The feud and subsequent legal tussle arose in April 2023, after Aussems’ AFC Leopards lost to Tusker FC (then coached by Matano). Aussems took to social media to insult Matano’s coaching ability and employ the controversial “juju man” remarks, which Matano vowed to pursue in the defamation case.
In the lawsuit, Matano, through his legal representatives Wambilianga, Majani & Associates, filed a defamation suit demanding a public apology from Aussems. The case stalled when Aussems abruptly left Kenya without filing a defense.
Matano, now coaching KCB FC, has welcomed Aussems back to the league and had insisted that the defamation lawsuit is still active, but Governor Sakaja intervened, leading the reconciliation of the two coaches who have now buried the hatchet and Matano had welcomed Aussems back to the Kenyan League.
