Outgoing Sofapaka tactician Robert Matano has formally been announced as the new head coach for Tanzanian side Fountain Gate FC.The announcement comes just days after Mozzart Sport revealed that the multiple Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title-winning coach had left the country for talks over the possibility of taking charge at the Tanzanian Premier League (TPL) club.Another Tanzanian club in talks to appoint Robert Matano“Welcome Robert Matano (The Lion) to the best club in Tanzania (translated),” Fountain Gate posted on their social media platforms on Friday.The 60-year-old, who was in charge of Sofapaka till the announcement, goes in as a replacement for exiting head coach Mohamed Muya, who was fired alongside his entire technical bench on 29 December.Karibu Kocha la Makombe ROBERT MATANO (The Lion) Kwenye Klabu Bora Tanzania. 💜🖤🩵🤍 #tanzaniteboys #BabatiManyara We Are Fountain Gate FC We Are The Tanzanites We Are Team Moja Team Pamoja pic.twitter.com/j0QxgtawoR— FOUNTAIN GATE FC (@fountaingatefc3) January 10, 2025 Matano, after a run of five games without a win to start the FKF Premier League season, managed to steady Sofapaka’s ship, and leaves them seventh on the log with 21 points.Having been previously linked with other Tanzanian sides – Coastal Union and Tabora United – in August, Matano now joins a team placed sixth in the TPL standings, and on a run of three straight defeats to end 2024.The club formed in 2010 on January 8 also parted ways with three of its players namely: Vitalis Nkosi, Aaron Lulambo and Hebron Yesaya.Matano’s first assignment comes on 23 January, when his new side takes on leaders Simba before travelling away to bottom-placed KenGold three days later.
