Coach Matano hails great day
Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano is looking forward to leading the club’s continental challenge next season after their Tusker Premier League triumph.
The brewers became champions for the 10th time in their history after seeing off the Nairobi City Stars 3-0 and Gor Mahia stumbling to a 1-1 draw with Thika United on the final day of league action.
Wild scenes of celebration erupted at the Hope Centre in Kawangware after they found out that Gor had drawn with Thika, in a match played at the same time at the City Stadium.
It was a sweet moment for Matano, who had seen his side lose impetus after losing to Gor three weeks ago. Now though, they can celebrate the title, as well as another shot at the CAF Champions League next term, a tournament that Matano wants to do well in, considering past failures.
“It is a great day not just for me, but the club and Tusker fraternity. We knew that it was not in our hands and we would have to depend on other results going our way,” he said.
“That aside, the players did their job and got the win, which is the most we could do. Obviously when we found out the result on the other side, we celebrated because ideally they had a good chance of winning the game and we are champions again.”
“We are very happy and glad to finish our season this way on such a high note.” Focus now shifts to next season’s champions League where Matano wants to do well and lift the club’s profile.
“The Champions League is a tournament where Kenyan clubs have not performed well over the years. I want to change that. It is never easy and needs planning and many things going your way to do well, but we hope that we can improve. If we can do well in the tournament, then it will show that we are growing as a club, which is what we want to do,” he added.
Last season, Tusker were beaten by Rwanda’s APR in the tourney’s preliminary stages.
