After weeks of speculations, Matano, who is nicknamed the ‘Special One’ aka ‘the Lion’, finally ditched Batoto ba Mungu on Friday, January 10th. Matano, who joined Sofapaka at the start of the season after leaving Tusker FC, was later unveiled by Tanzania Mainland Premier League side Singida Big Stars FC (Fountain Gate FC).
A statement from Sofapaka confirmed the exit of Matano and further revealed the elevation of his assistant Ezekiel Akwana to handle the side until the end of the season:
“We wish to notify you that coach Robert Matano has left the club, we are grateful for his services and wish him all the best in his new office,” read part of the statement. “In the meantime, assistant coach Ezekiel Akwana takes over the position as head coach.”
Truth be said, the exit of Matano will be a big blow to a Sofapaka side, who had experienced a remarkable turnaround under the veteran coach, a great improvement from the previous campaign when they avoided relegation by a whisker.
With 15 matches played so far, Sofapaka are currently placed seventh in the 18-team league table with 21 points, six fewer than leaders KCB and second-placed Tusker, who are tied on 27 points.
Last season, Sofapaka finished in 16th position, a place above the automatic two relegation spots after garnering 36 points from 34 matches amassed from nine wins, nine draws and 16 defeats.
In fact, Sofapaka had to keep their top-flight status after playing against National Super League (NSL) outfit Naivas FC in a relegation/promotion playoff battle. During the two-legged playoff fixture, Sofapaka then under Akwana, and who had earned promotion to the Kenyan Premier League in 2009, a season they went ahead to win the league title on their debut, defeated Naivas 2-0 on aggregate to confirm their stay in the top flight.
Sofapaka will not die because of Matano’s exit
According to Kalekwa, the exit of Matano, who is one of the most successful Kenyan coaches with four Kenyan Premier League titles to his name, will not derail their ambitions to finish the season on high.
“Everyone in this town is looking for money and I don’t have any problem with Matano leaving, we don’t need to worry about our performance (in the next matches) because he came and decided to depart on his own, many coaches have handled this team and Matano leaving is not the end of the world,” Kalekwa told Flashscore.
“How many coaches have we seen in Sofapaka since I started the team many years back? We have had Matano himself coach the team before, we have even hired foreign coaches, so after they left did Sofapaka die? So why should we be worried about Matano leaving? Nothing will change, we will continue to perform to the best of our abilities and finish the season as high as possible.”
Kalekwa continued: “I have a crop of players, who are determined to perform. We should not be thinking of Matano, he came and did his job, he managed to turn around the team’s fortunes. He found us in a very bad state but if he decides to leave, we don’t have to stop him. I have a lot of respect for Matano, he is a great coach and a family friend, and I wish him well in his new duties.”
Kalekwa further confirmed that when Matano approached him for a release letter, he did not hesitate to allow him to leave a club he had only managed for six months.
“When he (Matano) came to my office saying that he was leaving, I did not hesitate to give him the release letter, one thing I like about him, he came to me personally. I have issues with other coaches, who walk out of contracts without the knowledge of clubs,” explained Kalekwa.
Last season while Sofapaka were battling to avoid relegation, the then head coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, who still had a one-year contract, ditched the club as they were preparing to face Naivas in the relegation playoff fixture and joined Gor Mahia as an assistant to Leonardo Martins Neiva.
“It happened to Sofapaka last season, when we were fighting against relegation from the top flight and a coach (under contract) just walked out of the team a few days before we played our relegation/promotion playoff fixture against Naivas,” offered Kalekwa.
“I really felt bad, it was a time when we needed to come together as one family, our Premier League status was at stake but he decided to leave in a huff without even informing me or the club. Coaches shouldn’t behave that way. A respected coach should request to leave and that is what Matano did, so why should Sofapaka stand in his way?”
Deputy coach Akwana elevated to lead Sofapaka
Kalekwa confirmed the elevation of deputy coach Akwana to replace Matano on an interim basis until the end of the season.
“We have given the coaching mantle back to Akwana. He will be in charge of the team on an interim basis and will be assisted by Hillary Echesa, who will double up as the team manager,” explained Kalekwa. “We don’t need to go for another coach, Akwana has been tried and tested before and we trust he will help us see out the season without any hitches.”
Kalekwa added: “With experienced players like Humphrey (Mieno) in the squad, I want to assure the Sofapaka family that the club is already in very safe hands. We are a family, we must trust and use what we have. One thing I know and can say in confidence, we will not feel or be affected by the exit of Matano. We have enough in our family not to feel any effects or heat.”
Apart from winning the league title, Sofapaka have clinched the Kenya Super Cup (twice), President’s Cup (three times), Mashujaa Cup (once), Shield Cup (twice) and Jamhuri Cup (once).
They featured in the CAF Champions League in 2010 but failed to go past the preliminary round, and made three appearances in the Confederation Cup – 2008 when they got disqualified, 2010 when they reached the playoffs and 2015 when they reached the preliminary round.
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