Tusker's Matano bags June's coach of the month award

Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano has clinched the June Football Kenya Federation Premier League coach of the month.

“I am delighted with this award but credit goes to the players and the technical bench for the work we have put in. We worked hard as a unit to achieve this and we are grateful,” said the coach after being feted.

“Now this award will be a motivation to us for the last four games of the season and we will give our best to ensure we win our matches,” he added.

Matano guided his side to secure next season's CAF Champions League slot after they finished at the top of the table by June 30, the deadline set by the continental football governing body for all federations to send names of representatives.

The brewers won three out of the four matches played in the month of June.

They kicked off the month’s fixtures with a 1-0 loss to Posta Rangers at the Ruaraka Grounds but bounced back to beat Kariobangi Sharks 1-0 at Utalii Grounds.

They then floored Western Stima 2-1 at Ruaraka in their next encounter before thrashing Ulinzi Stars 4-1 thumping of Ulinzi Stars at ASK Grounds in Nakuru.

Matano nudged aside cutthroat competition from KCB’s Zedekiah Otieno who emerged second, and third-placed immediate former Nairobi City Stars coach Sanjin Alagic.

Matano subsequently takes home Ksh. 50,000 and a personalized trophy.

He becomes the sixth winner of the award this season after Francis Kimanzi, Andre Casa Mbungo, Stanley Okumbi, and Vaz Pinto who were awarded in December, January, February, March, and May respectively.