Barely a day after winning the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) title, Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano has aimed a dig at the cash-strapped Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards. Gor Mahia surrendered the title to Tusker after winning it in four consecutive seasons since the Brewers last landed the league crown back in 2016. K’Ogalo have however have suffered financial struggles this season which has led to a number of boycotts and players heading towards the exit door including Kenneth Muguna who joined Azam FC and Charles Momanyi is poised to join Tusker.Nuff said!! pic.twitter.com/5dUaS7TmnE— 🏆Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) August 22, 2021 Matano did not let slip of an opportunity to throw a jibe at Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards noting their financial struggles have become ‘natural’ as he played down the fact that money guarantees success in the sport. “Money does not play a big role, it is only to motivate players to be around and play. As a coach you have to have a different idea for that money, Gor Mahia have been winning trophies and they don’t have money, their problem is natural but they have been winning trophies. Gor Mahia and AFC the problem is the fame, football is about the coaches and player motivation not just money,””I was in Sofapaka and we won the league but we didn’t have money, self-motivation and coaches motivation was a big factor, players must know that the team does not have money so we can sit together and work for ourselves because when someone spots you playing you can get signed. So money can play a big role or destroy a club in Kenya,” said Matano in an interview with Citizen TV.This becomes the second Premier League title that Matano has won since bagging the 2009 crown after earning promotion from the second tier a season earlier. The former AFC Leopards head coach added that the playing unit at Ingwe were motivated to play despite money issues and highlighted the importance of proper structures in a football club. Good Champ12ns everyone…Oh yikes sorry, Good morning everyone?#KenyaMilele #Brewers4Life pic.twitter.com/DzPpLV1mek— 🏆Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) August 23, 2021 “When I went to AFC Leopards you saw the love of those players and you saw how players were working hard for the team so it both the love of the team and love to players, if you show me you like me I will play for you,””You can see some teams getting sponsored but they are still crying for money, players are not getting their money. You cannot blame a player, it’s those people in management,” added Matano.
