Kenyan coach Robert ‘The Lion’ Matano will make his competitive debut in the Tanzanian Premier League, when he leads his side Fountain Gate FC to take on giants Simba SC (Swahili for Lion). Matano, a hugely successful coach back in Kenya will look to spread his magic to the neighboring Tanzania, and what a way for him to start off than with a date against the league leaders.
Speaking to Telecomasia.net, Matano says he is excited at the prospect of meeting Simba, a team he says he has been a fan of for many years.
I am excited for this game. I am known as ‘The Lion’ and I am meeting Simba (Lions) so it will be an interesting and entertaining match. I have been watching Simba for many years and I have had my friends coach there as well and I love watching them to. So it is a team I know really well. It is going to be a toigh match. They are a big team and we respect them, but we are also ready to defend our home turf and get a good result.
The decorated Kenyan coach joined Fountain Gate three weeks ago, after leaving Kenya’s Sofapaka, where he was on a second stint after famously guiding them to the league title in their top flight debut in 2009.
With a new challenge outside home, Matano is eager to earn success as well.
I have been with the team for three weeks now and we have worked hard to try and improve in every department. There are goals and targets we have set for ourselves and I am confident that by the time we come to the end of the season, we will be in a better place where the team can be proud of.
The team is currently placed sixth in the standings and had lost all their last three matches. They brought in the experienced Matano, to turn them into a competitive outfit.
