Fearless Matano “The Lion” roars out of Tusker after six years

Kenya's most successful coach Robert Matano has left Tusker FC following the expiry of his six-year illustrious contract at Ruaraka.

Matano felt he had sniffed enough of the alcohol at the brewers’ plant just a stone's throw away from the Ruaraka training ground after the management failed to approve his budget for the players of his choice. 

The no-nonsense gaffer who has courted success and controversy in equal measures had dared the club to sack him after he was given an ultimatum to save his job against champions Gor Mahia following his poor league start last season.

“I don't succumb to threats; I don't work with ultimatums; and I don't fear being sacked. What will they do if I decide to leave before the match?”  Matano roared at club CEO Dennis Nzau.

The brewers went ahead to fall 1-0 to K'Ogallo on October 22, 2023, extending their poor run to three defeats, two wins and two draws out of seven.  Nzau, however, never touched Matano who went ahead to finish second on the log —eight points behind Gor Mahia.  

'The Lion' as he is known in football circles was in his second stint with the brewers and leaves a legacy only closely rivalled by veteran coach Jacob “Ghost“Mulee.

Mulee claimed two Kenyan premier league titles in 2000 and 2007 in addition to the regional Cecafa tournament title in 2001.

Matano and Sammy "Pamzo" Omolo are the only local managers who have wrestled the top-flight title from serial winners Gor Mahia in the last 12 years, ensuring the KPL  title was not a preserve of one team. 

Matano grabbed the title under Gor’s nose in 2012, defending  Pamzo's 2011 title, before adding the top 8 trophy to his accolades in 2013.

Meanwhile, Ugandan coach Paul Nkata completed a league and FKF Cup double with Tusker in 2016.

He led Tusker to back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022 respectively.  However, the latter was nullified by Caf, who didn’t acknowledge the champions, because the Football Kenya Federation was serving a Fifa ban and the league was run by an outsider—a caretaker committee.

Tusker FC, subsequently missed out on the 2022/2023 Caf Champions League, alongside Kenya Women’s Premier League champions, Vihiga Queens.

Matano has been accused by football stakeholders of 'black magic' but he always challenged local coaches to also win titles through “juju” and new ideas before arguing with him.

The Lion previously coached Nairobi City Stars, Sofapaka, Kenya Pipeline, Bidco United and Ulinzi Stars.

Former Kenyan international defender James Situma who won the President’s FKF  Cup under  Matano with City Stars in 2006 and the 2009 league title with Sofapaka, admits Matano is one of the best coaches. 

"He is a tough man with a winning mentality. He hates failure and will always congratulate his players whenever they win," said Situma.                The controversial tactician also recently claimed Harambee Stars assistant coach Ken Odhiambo wasn’t good enough for the national duty.

He also branded AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda a “failure” for achieving nothing since seizing power six years ago.

As the brewers search for Matano’s replacement, his first and second assistants George Mwangi and Charles Okere are among the faces being considered for the job, as they plot to stop Gor Mahia’s white coaches’ winning pattern when the 2024/2025 season.