KPL: Matano speaks on Tusker success

AFC Leopards head coach Robert Matano train at Kakamega's Bukhungu on Feb 8th, 2018 ahead of their CAF Confederations Cup preliminary match against Madagascars Fosa Junior next Saturday. By Chrispen Sechere.

How ‘Lion’ gave Brewers taste

Former AFC coach says Tusker were patient with him

Tactician says working at Ingwe was tough as there was a lot of interference.

He is well known as a master of turning around dwindling clubs’ fortunes and Robert Matano did it again with Tusker in the Sportpesa Premier League this season.

Taking over when the brewers were languishing in the 15th position, Matano better known as the ‘Lion’ helped the former KPL champions finish in third position.

By the time Matano (pictured) was taking over, Tusker had won just two of their 12 matches leading to the sacking of Ugandan coach Sam Timbe and his technical bench.

Speaking on the team’s performance Matano says he was grateful that the brewers were patient with him and gave him a chance to turn around the team.

“It is about being mentally prepared and knowing what you want and translating the same to the players. If you are not patient you will not build anything worthwhile,” he said.

Prior to joining Tusker, Matano had just been relieved of his duties at AFC Leopards despite helping the team to win the GOtv Shield.

“It was difficult working at Leopards as some people tried to interfere with my work. That cannot work because if you give someone a job you should give them the freedom to do it.

“Unfortunately, that was not the case. There was a lot of interference and at some point the officials seemed to know better than the coach.

“Furthermore, Leopards did not have money to recruit more players and so we had to work with what we had, but even that we still had a good side that needed time to perform,” Matano said.

Matano is proud that he brought in some players like Ezekiel Odera even though few people at Leopards did not trust in him.

“We had an opportunity to build something at Leopards but it needed time considering there were some new players who needed time to get used to the team.”

He also cited unfulfilled promises at Leopards as one of the major reasons that affected the team’s performance.

“It is difficult to motivate the players when you have not paid them allowances. Some had not received their signing on fees in full and all this took away the focus and concentration,” he said.

The coach said he experienced no such challenges at Tusker and was therefore able to guide them to a respectable position in the league.

“With everything at my disposal it was easy to turn around the team’s performance. In the end we won 14 out of 23 matches though we had a few challenges on the way and I am glad the officials supported me fully,” he said.

The team resumes training next week in preparation for the new season which kicks off in December.