UPDATE: Tusker FC coach Robert Matano’s condition after being admitted in ICU

Tusker coach Robert Matano was on Saturday, October 17 admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Nairobi West Hospital.

He is now in stable condition.

Speaking exclusively to The Standard Sport before his condition worsened, Matano revealed he was unwell.

The nature of the ailment could not be immediately established, but the two-time Kenyan Premier League winning coach with Sofapaka and Tusker was put on oxygen.

Tusker chairman Dan Aduda said the club wished coach Matano a quick recovery adding they are monitoring the situation with the help of the team doctor Wycliffe Makanga.

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"The doctors at the Nairobi West Hospital are on top of the situation. They have run some tests and we believe all shall be well. The team doctor is in touch with the hospital. The coach is in good hands," said Aduda.

Matano, a former AFC Leopards player and coach is one of the coaches who recently founded the Kenya Football Coaches Association (KENFOCA).

A strict disciplinarian, Matano has earned the nickname The Lion for his uncompromising approach to football matters, coaching philosophy that calls for absolute fitness of players.

Matano felt Gor Mahia had added advantage in the Kenyan Premier League battle

With the draft fixtures for the 2020/21 FKF Premier League season out, Matano urged the Ministry of Sports to allow full resumption of football activities.

As per the fixtures released on Wednesday by the FKF, the league is expected to kick off on November 20 and end on July 21, 2021 subject to permission by the ministries of Sports and Health.

Save for record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia, who were given green light by the Ministry of Sports to start training ahead of their yet to be confirmed continental assignments, most Premier League clubs have been training in secrecy and fear.

The top tier clubs have been out of action since the sporting industry was shut in March after the first case of coronavirus infection was reported in the country.

Last month, football and other contact disciplines were dealt a major blow when Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed announced that all contact sports remain suspended until further notice. FKF were planning to start their new season this month with the promotion play-offs between Kisumu AllStars and Vihiga United (October 7 and 11) penciled to welcome football action back in the country.

However, the fixtures were indefinitely postponed after the government extended suspension on contact sports.

But the last international match between Harambee Stars and Zambia’s Chipolopolo at Nyayo National Stadium followed by the announcement of the league’s fixtures, appears to have given a ray of hope to the domestic football-starved fans.

And having witnessed Tusker suffer a humiliating 5-2 defeat to Gor Mahia in their opening match last season, Matano called on the government to give all teams fair treatment in terms of preparation ahead of their rematch against K'Ogalo on November 21.

“We can’t wait for the new season to start. This is something we’ve been waiting for since the league was abandoned in March. We’ve to use what we have now to prepare to play the Premier League,” Matano told Standard Sports.

“But they should now allow teams to start training fully. There is no sense for us to continue training under restrictions yet the fixtures are out. How are we going to prepare for the new season? If Gor Mahia were given permission to train, what about the rest?”

He added: “Yes, Gor Mahia are going for continental assignments and they have an advantage in terms of fitness and so forth. But for those of us who are not going anywhere, we are still waiting to be given the green light to train. So, when are we going to be ready to compete?

“We’ve not played football since March, how are you going to get coordination and know if your team is ready to compete?" he posed.