Leopards set to fire Matano

EXCLUSIVE

AFC Leopards National Executive Committee is today (Tuesday) evening expected to terminate the two- year contract it had signed with besieged head coach Robert Matano at the beginning of the season.

The fiery Matano has been on a two-week suspension owing to among other things, poor performance and falling out with the playing unit.

According to impeccable sources within the club’s executive, the committee of ten officials will meet this evening to communicate its decision to the veteran coach.

In Matano’s absence, Tanzanian Dennis Kitambi has held fort impressively winning two matches on the bounce – a 2-0 win over Sony Sugar at the Awendo Green Stadium and last weekend’ s hard-fought 4-3 victory over Mathare United– developments that have made the club’s bosses come to the conclusion that the  no-nonsense coach was the hindrance to the team’s good run.

Speaking to Citizen Digital on condition of anonymity, a club official said :“Let me tell you my friend, Matano is on his way out after our intensive investigations over several allegations .

“We now have the full picture of what has been happening and this is the reason why the majority has taken this decision to terminate his contract.”

Under Matano, AFC Leopards won only one Kenyan Premier League match, drawn once and lost one game, besides being tossed out of the Caf-Confederatiosn Cup by Malagasy side Fosa Juniors.

AFC Leopards SC players pose for a photo during their Super Cup match against Gor Mahia FC at Afraha stadium in Nakuru on January 28, 2018. Gor Mahia FC won 1-0. Photo/Stafford Ondego/Sportpicha

The source added:“The young players who have started registering good results fear Matano a lot due to his no-nonsense coaching style.

“In the last two matches that Ingwe has played, we have seen a different team; which is hungry to win and also play a ‘one touch’ style of football.”

Matano has coached several clubs among them Sofapaka — which he guided to a first a first league title in 2009– in their debut season, Tusker, Ulinzi Stars, amongst others.

Ingwe will face Wazito FC in a mid-week fixture on Wednesday at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos aiming to maintain their new-found momentum

They are currently placed fifth on the 18-team log on 10 points

Meanwhile, in a bid to spur healthy competition in the team and boost performance, the club has initiated a monthly award to team best player, with custodian Jairus Adira being named  February’s player of the month. His heroics between the sticks in recent matches saw him take home Sh 10,000.

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AFC Leopards suspension set poor perfomance to fire Robert Matano

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