Former Black Leopards coach Patrick Aussems has described reports suggesting he is on the verge of joining Rwanda’s top-flight league side Kiyovu FC as mere rumours.
Kenya’s AFC Leopards mentor has reacted to the reports by posting a picture of himself relaxing in France.
“All these rumours ….I am quiet, at home, 35° … Let me enjoy my holidays … Good evening, everyone!” he posted on his Twitter handle.
However, Kiyovu Secretary General Omar Munyengabe told Rwanda Times newspaper that the Belgian had agreed in principle to sign a three-year contract.
“The agreement has been reached, but the contract has not been signed yet. After the talks, there is a 90 per cent chance that he will become the coach of Kiyovu…but he has not signed yet,” Munyengabe said.
He said the Belgian’s tweet was simply setting the record straight that he had not yet put pen to paper.
“I also saw his post …I think he made that post because different media reported that he has already signed, yet no contract has been signed yet. The talks were held, but both sides have not put pen to paper,” Munyengabe said.
The Kiyovu GS said he was certain the coach’s contract with Leopards had run its course.
“I doubt that he still has a contract at AFC Leopard because, during the negotiations, he never mentioned that he still has a contract with them. All I know is that he is a free agent but I can’t say much about it as I have no idea about it,” he said.
Aussems signed a three-year deal with Leopards in the 2020 season but he left after a few games.
When ‘Ingwe’ appointed him just over a year ago, they had been without a coach for a while after Tomas Trucha quit alleging some officials were interfering with his work. Trucha, a Czech Republic citizen, was appointed to lead the 13-time champions in early November 2020 to help the team challenge for the 2020/21 league title.
After assistant coach Anthony ‘Modo’ Kimani took charge temporarily, the club roped in the Belgian who had been a free agent since his exit from Simba of Tanzania.
Aussems’ departure from Dar es Salaam was not smooth after the former Tanzania Mainland League champions opted to part ways with the 57-year-old following his failure to guide the team to the Caf Champions League group stage.
His axing came at the back of a war of words with club officials who were unhappy over his decision to travel to his native country without the club’s permission. The disagreement led to his suspension before they fired him.
The well-travelled coach, who has also had stints in China, Nepal, France, Cameroon and DR Congo, was born on February 6, 1965, in Moelingen, Belgium.
His playing career took him to clubs including RCS Vise, Standard Liege, KAA Gent, RFC Seraing and France’s ES Troyes AC.
RELATED STORY: How a Soweto derby opened a door for Venda coach Loftman at Pirates
