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Matano has left Tusker after months of indifferences with the club's management, with the writing being on the wall for quite some time now.
Veteran Kenyan coach Robert Matano has left Tusker FC after six years in his second stint at the club, Pulse Sports understands.
Dubbed ‘The Lion’ for his no-nonsense approach to have things done his own way, Matano has left the club after months of disagreements with the club management.
A fallout with the club hierarchy early last season, and public exchanges between him and chairman Charles Gacheru meant it was just a matter of time before the two parties severed ties.
Despite reporting for pre-season on Monday, the uncompromising Matano will not be at Tusker’s dugout when the new season starts.
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11:30 - 17.07.2024
Tusker head coach Robert Matano discloses origin of his 'Lion' moniker
Matano has shared insights on his coaching philosophy and his journey through Kenya's top football leagues.
Charles Okere has been in charge of training over the last two days after the team resumed its preseason training last Monday until the club appoint a new coach.
Sources close to the club have indicated that, although the timing announcement did catch them by surprise, it was just a matter of when he would leave.
“Matano has been at loggerheads with the management for a while now. Plans had already been put in place for his departure right before pre-season,” a source, granted anonymity to protect relationships, stated.
It is not the first time Matano has nearly quit the club. In 2022 after they won the league in the now-annulled season, the gaffer threatened to quit his job citing disrespect by the previous management.
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Matano has now spent a total of nine as the club's tactician, winning three titles with them —although one was annulled when FKF was reinstated in 2022 and decided to cancel the season that was run by the government-installed FKF Caretaker Committee.
Matano is now the most decorated local-based coach in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League. Not even a foreign coach has won the league more times than Matano, who has three league titles, four if you consider the 2021/2022 season.
He previously won it in 2009 with Sofapaka and then another two with the Alemen.
The tactician rejoined Tusker FC in April 2018 from AFC Leopards with the task of delivering the League title and ending the dominance of Gor Mahia at that time.
The former AFC Leopards coach built a formidable team at Tusker, and even though he had to wait a little longer, he eventually won the FKF Premier League in the 2020/2021 season to end Gor Mahia’s four-year dominance.
He later defended the league title in the controversial 2021/2022 season, beating Kakamega Homeboyz to the title by a superior goal difference after tying on points. However, that season was declared null and void by FKF.
He is well-known for his strictness and winning mentality. This was evident in his team's performance in the league. Throughout his six-year second stint, he never finished outside the top four teams.
With his profile and track record in the league as well as a CAF A license, he is expected to be highly sought after in the transfer market. In 2023, he held talks with Bandari to take over as the new coach, but Harambee Stars assistant Ken Odhiambo is expected to take charge of the club.
Other FKF Premier League clubs that the Lion has previously led include World Hope (Nairobi City Stars , Kenya Pipeline, Bidco United and Ulinzi Stars.
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