Matano: Kenya's most decorated, feared and respected football coach

Those who have interacted with Robert Matano will tell you he hardly ever compromises on his ideals.

Apart from being a strict disciplinarian, Matano sets the bar high and pushes his players to punch above their weight.

'The Lion' will be roaring again when the new Kenyan Premier League season kicks off on August 24.

He will train his sights on steering Sofapaka SC to another feat akin to their stellar performance that clinched the 2009 KPL title when he was the coach.

Matano, 60, joined Batoto Ba Mungu mid-last month from rivals Tusker, where he spent the better part of his coaching career.

He was fortunate to land the new job barely a couple of days after parting ways with the Ruaraka-based brewers.

Although he bolted out of the club acrimoniously, Matano said he has no regrets after a fruitful stint with the club, where he secured two top-flight titles.

“I joined Tusker in 2018 while they were at position 18 on the log. I led them to position three. In the other five seasons, I won two titles in 2021 and 2022 and finished behind Gor Mahia on three occasions," said Matano.

Matano prides himself as the most accomplished gaffer on the local terrain after scooping four KPL titles during his stellar career.

He will be steering the wheel that Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno abandoned in a huff after landing a deal with record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia two months ago.

On numerous occasions, he has been accused of resorting to black magic to help him beat opponents, a claim he dismisses as baseless.

Every successful person battles malicious people around them all the time. People claim that I  use black magic to win matches. That's hogwash. Football success is primarily determined by strategy, organisation, drive and concentration," said Matano.

His departure from Tusker was long overdue after drawn-out misunderstandings with his employers.

A year ago, he moved to dispel fears that he might face the axe. Speculation was rife in the air that the seasoned gaffer had been given an ultimatum by his employers to win a crucial match against Gor Mahia failure which he would be shown the door. He lost 1-0 but survived the chop .

The tactician emerged from the dugout exuding confidence even after Benson Omalla's first-half effort condemned his charges to a loss.

Dressed in a grey suit, a white shirt, and a red tie, Matano beamed off a reassuring smile, while noting that he was yet to see his sunset days at the club.

"I'm going nowhere. I'm at Tusker to stay. I'll be there in the next match and you'll still be seeing me around in the next season," Matano stated then.

But as fate would have it, Matano quit the team following months of heightened qualms with the management.

A rift with the club's management at the beginning of the previous campaign and open spats between him and chairman Charles Gacheru marked the beginning of his sunset days at the club and it was only a matter of time before he quit.

Right before preseason, plans had already been made for his departure, according to a source who asked to remain anonymous. 

Matano had come close to leaving the team before. After winning the league in the subsequently cancelled season in 2022, the manager made threats to resign, citing mistreatment.

After working for the club for nine years in total as their tactician, Matano won three titles.

However, one won under the government-backed Caretaker Committee was revoked when FKF was reestablished in 2022.

He is the most decorated local coach with three league titles and has won the league more times than any coach. 

After taking a little longer, Matano built a more formidable Tusker side that halted Gor Mahia's four-year reign in the 2020–2021 season.

Later, after the teams tied on points, he successfully defended the league title in the contentious 2021–2022 season, defeating Kakamega Homeboyz with a better goal differential. FKF, however, ruled that season to be void.

His winning mindset and strictness are well renowned and his team's league performance attests to this. In his six-year return, he never placed lower than the top four teams.

Given his reputation, performance history and CAF A license, he commands a premium price in the transfer market.

The Lion has previously held coaching roles at World Hope (Nairobi City Stars), Kenya Pipeline, Bidco United and Ulinzi Stars among other FKF Premier League teams.

He plied his trade for AFC Leopards as a defender after honing his skills at Hakati FC, Kenatco FC, Nakuru Youth Olympic and Abeingo.

He transitioned to coaching after playing for 10 years. His first station was Pumwani Sportif before moving to Kenya Pipeline, Shamako Babes, Bayer East Africa, Safari Park, Timsales, Kimbo FC and Re-Union.

He was named the Coach of the Month in June 2021 and was picked as the Coach of the Year at the close of the 2020–21 season to add to a similar award earned in 2009. Matano made it to the national fold as an assistant coach to the Kenya National team in 2006.

Matano values his family above everything else in life. The tactician acknowledges that his motivation to improve every day comes from his strong family values. He wants to provide a good example for his kids. 

"While I'm not coaching, I enjoy dancing to sultry rhumbas. I have always enjoyed dancing since I was a young boy because it contributes to physical fitness," Matano said.

"I always go to the club to listen to music after a game, regardless of the result of the match. The only thing that can cheer you up after a loss is music."

The shrewd and devoted family guy Matano says, "When I'm not playing football with my kids, I'm either jogging or helping my wife in our family shop."

As a coach, his most treasured season was winning the league with Sofapaka in 2009. "Sofapaka gave me the moniker "Lion" because Club chairman Elly Kalekwa said I had the heart of a lion and was a fearless predator.

As a coach, I accomplished a lot for Sofapaka by putting strong systems in place in addition to playing on the bench. Kalekwa called me "Lion" because of my propensity for going for things.”

"After three unsuccessful attempts, we won the Nationwide League in 2008 and the following year, we won the KPL title and made our debut in the CAF Champions League competition," Matano said.

Matano recalls a memorable 2012 season in which he helped Tusker win the KPL title again against all odds.

“Tusker had given up on winning the title by the time I visited there in 2012. I thus tried my best to revive the spirits of a disheartened team and they returned with zeal and vigour to win. 

“I therefore tried my hardest to give a team that had lost hope some hope, and they came back with all of their might to win the league at Hope Center on the final day of play. It was a sweet victory, I must admit."

Among his most treasured and nostalgic memories of his playing career is his assistance in his first love's AFC Leopards' victory in the East and Central Africa Club Championship (CECAFA) in February 1984.

He also reminisces about the fond memories of his early years.

"My tale about football is depressing. My father passed away when I was 10 years old and my mother died when I was six. I detest discussing my struggles since I have struggled with them. I attended school at the mercy of friends in several different towns around the nation. Several times, I went to bed famished.

“In Huruma, we used to reside with Austin Oduor while I was a player for Hakati FC. He remains my closest buddy. During games, we were rivals, but once the 90-minute whistle blew, we became close friends.”