Fidelity Coach Of The Month Winner Matano Wants Racing Start From Tusker

4th December 2018

Seasoned tactician receives pre-season boost on Tuesday when he received the September/October prize and KSh75,000

Fidelity Insurance Marketing and Business Development Manager Nicholas Malesi (right) presents the Fidelity Coach of the Month award to Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano on Tuesday, December 3, 2018. PHOTO/Courtesy
Fidelity Insurance Marketing and Business Development Manager Nicholas Malesi (right) presents the Fidelity Coach of the Month award to Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano on Tuesday, December 3, 2018. PHOTO/Courtesy
SUMMARY
  • The tough-talking Matano got the perfect pre-season gift on Tuesday morning when he was crowned the 2018 season as September/October Fidelity Insurance coach of the Month, pocketing KSh75,000 and a plaque
  • The veteran tactician took charge of the 11-time league winners when they were languishing in the relegation zone before steering the side he lifted the title in 2012 to a lofty third finish at the end of the campaign
  • Tusker have a testing trip to Sony Sugar FC on Sunday for their SPL opener as they seek to end the domination of rivals Gor by securing their 12th crown

NAIROBI, Kenya- Tusker FC head coach, Robert ‘The Lion’ Matano has challenged his players to put together a flying start to their 2018/19 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) campaign in their quest to reclaim the crown they last won in 2016.

The tough-talking Matano got the perfect pre-season gift on Tuesday morning when he was crowned the 2018 season as September/October Fidelity Insurance coach of the Month, pocketing KSh75,000 and a plaque.

The veteran tactician took charge of the 11-time league winners when they were languishing in the relegation zone before steering the side he lifted the title in 2012 to a lofty third finish at the end of the campaign.

Matano edged SportPesa Shield and KPL Super Cup winning-boss, William Muluya for the monthly gong.

"I did not know that I would get this award but it makes me very happy. It may be delayed but it is a timely boost as we go into the new season. 

“I'm grateful to my players who worked hard for me to get this prize and I want to urge them to work harder and pick the players' award as the season begins," Matano said after picking his award at the club's training grounds in Ruaraka 

Tusker won four of its last five matches of the SPL season that straddled September and the first week of October.

The Brewers who are rank contenders for the crown in the new campaign that opens this weekend started the period with a 2-0 win over Thika United FC at the Thika Sub-County Stadium before settling for a 2-2 draw with Mathare United FC at Ruaraka.

Tusker then demolished AFC Leopards 4-0 in Machakos before sinking Nzoia Sugar FC and champions Gor Mahia FC with identical 1-0 victories to round off a season that had started disastrously under Ugandan head coach, Sam Timbe.

Matano who joined Tusker from Leopards in April becomes the eighth recipient of the accolade this year after Francis Kimanzi, Dennis Kitambi, Sammy Okoth, Anthony Mwangi, Dylan Kerr, Patrick Odhiambo and Bernard Mwalala. 

Tusker have a testing trip to Sony Sugar FC on Sunday for their SPL opener as they seek to end the domination of rivals Gor by securing their 12th crown.