Africa-Press – Kenya. Nairobi United’s mercurial playmaker Brian Machaka has admitted their CAF Confederation Cup journey is effectively over, but insists the hard lessons gathered on the continental stage will sharpen the team for a stronger finish in the Kenyan Premier League.
The attacking midfielder, who played a central creative role during the campaign, believes exposure to Africa’s demanding football environment has transformed the squad’s mentality and raised internal standards.
“We’re basically out of the CAF Confederation Cup, but we shall use the lessons we learned to perform better in the Kenyan Premier League,” Machaka said.
United’s continental run pitted them against physically imposing and tactically disciplined sides, exposing areas that require urgent improvement. Machaka did not shy away from pointing to physicality as a decisive factor.
“We were not outplayed in terms of skill,” he said. “Most of the teams beat us because of inferior physicality on our side.”
The midfielder explained that African club football demands a higher level of strength and aggression than what United are accustomed to domestically.
“In Africa, the game is very physical,” Machaka noted. “If you cannot match the intensity and strength, you struggle to impose yourself.”
He singled out their encounter with Tanzanian side Azam as particularly revealing. “Azam were actually the only team whose players had smaller body frames compared to us,” he observed. “But they still beat us because they used their bodies better and won the physical duels.”
Machaka said the defeat forced deep reflection within the dressing room. “That game taught us that physicality is not about size alone,” he said. “It is about timing, positioning and how you protect the ball under pressure.”
The playmaker described the overall continental experience as eye-opening. “The speed of play was higher than what we face in the league,” he said. “You get less time on the ball, and defenders close you down very quickly.”
He added that mistakes were punished instantly. “In CAF matches, if you switch off for a moment, you concede,” Machaka said. “There is no room for lapses in concentration.”
Despite the disappointment of elimination, Machaka believes the exposure will give Nairobi United an edge in their remaining KPL fixtures. “Coming back to the league, we feel mentally stronger,” he said. “We have seen a higher level, and that pushes us to raise our standards.”
According to the midfielder, the technical bench has already responded to the lessons learned. “We have adjusted our training to focus more on strength and conditioning,” he revealed. “We know we must improve physically if we want to compete at the top.”
Machaka also highlighted the importance of mentality in continental football. “CAF competitions test your character,” he said. “You travel long distances, play in hostile environments and still have to perform.”
He believes such experiences will help the squad handle pressure situations in the domestic run-in. “In the league now, we will not panic easily,” Machaka said. “We have played in tougher environments.”
The midfielder acknowledged that supporters had hoped for a deeper run in the competition. “Our fans expected more, and we understand that,” he said. “But this experience is part of our growth as a club.”
Machaka stressed that the team remains ambitious despite the setback. “We are not discouraged,” he said. “If anything, we are more motivated to show what we can do locally.”
He believes the physical and tactical demands of continental football have sharpened individual players. “Personally, I have learned to release the ball quicker and move smarter,” Machaka said. “You cannot dwell on possession at that level.”
He added that teamwork has also improved. “Going through tough matches together has united us,” he said. “We now understand each other better on and off the pitch.”
With the KPL season entering a crucial phase, Machaka is confident United can translate continental lessons into domestic consistency.
“We want to finish the league strongly,” he said. “Our focus is to apply what we learned and collect maximum points.”
The playmaker concluded with optimism about the club’s future trajectory.
“This campaign has shown us where we stand,” Machaka said. “Now we know what is required to compete beyond Kenya.”
For Nairobi United, the CAF Confederation Cup may have ended sooner than hoped. Yet, if Machaka’s reflections are anything to go by, the experience has planted seeds of growth that could bear fruit in the Kenyan Premier League.
