Robert Matano, the highly respected and fiery coach known as ‘The Lion,’ has finally lifted the lid on his departure from Tusker FC, marking the end of a notable six-year tenure at the 13-time Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions. Matano, who guided Tusker to significant success during his time at the club, has shared insights into his decision to leave and the circumstances surrounding his exit.
Matano’s departure from Tusker FC came after a highly successful second stint with the club, where he made history by winning three KPL titles and adding a Kenyan Super Cup to his collection. His remarkable achievements include back-to-back Premier League titles in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons and a Top 8 Cup triumph. This success further cemented his legacy, surpassing the previous record of two league titles held by Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee.
In an exclusive interview with Citizen Digital, Matano explained that his exit was a result of his contract expiring and his personal belief that he had achieved all he could with the club. “I left because my contract expired. Again, despite that, I felt I have done a lot for Tusker and it was time to exit and seek another challenge,” Matano said. He expressed no regrets, emphasizing his satisfaction with his contributions and the achievements during his tenure.
Matano’s tenure at Tusker was marked by several challenges, which he navigated with his extensive experience. He described the past three seasons as particularly tough, attributing some of the struggles to a lack of comprehensive support from the club’s management. While the management focused heavily on paying players’ salaries, Matano hinted at other critical areas that were neglected. “We have had a lot of challenges for the last three seasons. The management has been investing in one area, which is paying players’ salaries but ignored other areas,” he revealed. Despite these hurdles, Matano’s leadership ensured that Tusker remained a formidable force in Kenyan football, consistently competing at the top level.
Matano’s exit coincided with significant changes at Tusker, including the departure of several key players who had viewed him as a father figure. While he did not disclose his future plans, Matano remained open to new opportunities, hinting that he would consider any offers that come his way. “If an offer comes my way, I will definitely grab it and continue plying my trade,” he said.
There were speculations that Matano might join Bandari FC, but the dockers opted for former Kenyan international and Harambee Stars assistant coach Ken Odhiambo instead. This decision left Matano’s future uncertain, but his accomplishments with Tusker and his previous clubs such as World Hope (now Nairobi City Stars), AFC Leopards, Sofapaka, and Ulinzi Stars, underline his stature in Kenyan football. His coaching career boasts four league titles and individual accolades like Coach of the Year awards in 2009 and the 2020-21 season.
As Matano steps away from Tusker FC, he does so with a legacy of triumphs and a reputation as one of Kenyan football’s most formidable tacticians. His contributions to the club and the league will be remembered, and while his next move remains unclear, there is no doubt that ‘The Lion’ will continue to make an impact in the footballing world.
