Former AFC Leopards coach Luc Eymael has insisted that he is not a racist and would once again love to manage a club in the sub Saharan region.
The Belgian who was fired by Yanga SC of Tanzania in June 2020 following a dismal performance against Lipuli FC. He says that he never said any derogatory remarks after the match as claimed by the Tanzanian media.
Eymael who has traversed the wider part of the region says he simply lashed out at Yanga fans who jeered and threw water bottles after he made a substitution versus Lipuli.
He has told TeamKenya that he intends to seek justice and ensure that he is dully paid his dues that he is owed by the Tanzania Premier League giants.
“First of all i am not a racist. I have worked very well in so many countries and never at once discriminated or used derogatory words against anyone.”
“I have always respected everyone I have worked with. In fact FIFA and SAFA(South Africa Football Association) have cleared my name of any wrongdoing,” he said.
“On the material day, I was recorded by the Yanga team doctor who went ahead to edit my audio and share it with the media. To me this is witch hunt and malice. In the modern world, it is very unprofessional. Not at any time did i refer to Yanga fans as monkeys, we talked about monkeys at dinner and it was just a normal chat,” he insisted.
Last month, he was close to joining Chipa United as the club’s technical advisor but this was short lived when ghosts from his previous deeds came to haunt him.
The 61-year old says a lot of politics has been played to ensure that he does not get another chance to do what he loves most.
“A lot of politics has been played around, guys like Robert Marawa spread a lot of propaganda and that is why i lost the Chipa United opportunity,” he added.
“I want to reiterate that I am very clean and if I offended anyone then I beg their pardon.”
“I can understand people that heard those audio clips and I want to once again apologize to all the people that have been hurt by my words and actions. Those words were taken out of context and were used to completely tarnish my reputation. I did say some of the statements on the audio. I just want to apologize to all the fans. I respect you so much and I am sorry if the broadcasted details hurt you. It was not my intention and I am not the kind of man that some people are trying to describe. All the players or people who have worked with/around me can attest to this.”
Luc however wants the Yanga SC management to pay him his dues. “I am yet to receive a termination letter from Yanga SC despite the many emails from my lawyer to the club. I also never received a salary for half of June and full July bonuses included. There has also never been any meeting with me despite my lawyer writing to the federation and to the club three times.”