The mojo is back but we can do more, says Matano

Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano is happy his men are finding the rhythm but is not excited at all, insisting he “needs more.”

Tusker, whose slow start into the season was attributed to lack of group training by the coach, now have 10 points from five matches, after beating Vihiga United 1-0 on Sunday.

They first lost 2-1 to rivals AFC Leopards, before drawing Bandari FC 0-0 in the second round. The Brewers however sprung back to winning ways from the third round, clobbering Western Stima 5-2 before upsetting champions Gor Mahia 2-1 in their fourth outing.

Matano has lauded the spirit exhibited by his charges, but warned them against resting on their laurels.

“I’m happy because we have responded well after a poor start. I said we could not plan well for a match without training together and testing players well in a match situation. Now we can see the result, but I cannot be excited because this is like a marathon. It is like eating, you eat today and you are satisfied but you will need to eat tomorrow,” Matano said.

The veteran coach has also challenged his players to build on the three matches winning streak to fly higher in the campaign.

“We have seen where we are, and what our opponents are doing. Having overcome the difficult start, we need to capitalise on the recent results in our next fixtures. We are however planning for one at a time,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Vihiga United’s Sammy Okoth was comfortable with his players’ output despite returning home empty handed.

Vihiga have won one and lost three in their four matches this season, and the former Zoo Kericho tactician believes all is not lost.

“I expected a better result because the way we played we proved we could have done it. The idea was to deny them (Tusker) to play the ball which we did well especially in the first half, but we could not utilise the chances we made. That remains the major issue we have to address when we retreat to training,” he offered.

Okoth, whose side was promoted into the FKF-PL after beating Kisumu AlStars in the playoffs, hinted he may need to strengthen his squad in the next transfer window.

“I was not able to sign new players in the preseason because we had a very short time after winning the playoffs. I’m working with the same squad I had in the National Super League but we have made adjustments in the way we play at this level. They are really working hard but the adjustment has not yielded immediately, and we may need to do more,” told Okoth.

BKPL Round 4 Results

Thursday

Bidco United 0-0 Nairobi City Stars (Utalii Grounds)

Friday

Bandari FC 1-2 KCB FC (Mbaraki Grounds)

AFC Leopards 0-2 Western Stima (Kasarani Stadium)

Saturday

Wazito FC 0-0 Ulinzi Stars FC (Kasarani Stadium)

Sofapaka FC 1-2 Kariobangi Sharks FC (Wundanyi Stadium)

Nzoia Sugar FC 1-1 Posta Rangers FC (Sudi Stadium)

Sunday

Tusker FC 1-0 Vihiga United FC (Kasarani Stadium)