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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Crowning moment for veteran Robert Matano and Tusker

Football

By Washington Onyango | Aug 22, 2021

**Tusker players celebrating their 2-0 victory against Gor Mahia during FkF Premier League match, round of Twenty four at Ruaraka grounds. July 8, 2021.** [Jonah Onyango, Standard] [Jonah Onyango]

Tusker is on the verge of winning their 12th Premier League title today as the 2021 FKF Premier League season comes to an end.

Thanks to the guidance of veteran coach Robert Matano, the breweries are just one point away from reclaiming the title they lost to record champions Gor Mahia in 2017 title.

And it is newbies Bidco United that the brewers will face in their season ender at Utalii Grounds today.

Tusker lead the standings with 62 points, three more than their closest rivals KCB who battle with Nairobi City Stars in Narok.

It is evident the title is Tusker’s to lose as they have a better goal difference of seven goals over second placed KCB.

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For Zedekiah Otieno’s men to lift their first ever league title, they will have to score more than seven goals against City Stars and pray that Tusker fall to newbies Bidco.

However, it will be very impossible for Tusker to lose the title to the bankers if Matano’s history and their current form is anything to go by.

Matano who returned to the brewers in 2018 is on the verge of winning his second title as Tusker coach and overall third Premier League title in his coaching career.

After helping Tusker win the then KPL title in 2012, Matano who underwent ups and down with AFC Leopards and Ulinzi Stars, has overcome illness to inspire the Ruaraka-based outfit to another title triumph.

Today’s feat will come barely two months after he helped the brewers qualify for the CAF Champions League courtesy of being Kenyan league leaders by June 30.

In 2018, he led the team to a third place finish (56 points) before slipping one place down to fourth in 2019.

Since last year, Tusker have been on the upward curve and even launched a serious title charge against Gor Mahia.

Their dreams were however shuttered when the league was disrupted and ended prematurely due to the coronavirus pandemic with the Football Kenya Federation handing the title to K’Ogalo who won the league by virtue of being at the summit after 22 games.

But this season, the brewers capitalised on KCB, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards inconsistency to bag the title.

The club’s captain Eugene Asike also stood out throughout the campaign with his performance earning him a call back to the national team a few days ago.