Exclusive: Odemba’s Short Journey at Kenya Police Comes to an End as Matano Set to Take Charge

Beldine Odemba’s reign as Kenya Police FC interim coach came to an end on Tuesday as she saw the law enforcers settle for a 1-1 draw against FKF Premier League leaders KCB at the Dandora Stadium. 

IN COMES MATANO

Experienced coach Robert Matano will take over reigns at Police FC, SportsBoom.com can reveal. Matano was present as Police rallied from behind to hold KCB and walked straight to the team’s dressing room after the match. 

Matano has been unsettled at Sofapaka, a club in which he guided to lifting the league title in 2009. The ‘Lion’ as he is commonly referred to, will be in the dugout as Police take on AFC Leopards in a league match to be played on Sunday, December 1,2024. 

KALEKWA NOT SCARED BY MATANO’S DEPARTURE 

Matano’s departure has, however, not gone well with Sofapaka President Elly Kalekwa, who said the team will be stable without his services. 

“Whatever you are hearing does not scare us, if he (Matano) is going to Kenya Police so what, did anybody die?” Kalekwa quipped when responding to SportsBoom.com.

Kalekwa continued: “It is now too much. Matano and I worked together at Sofapaka between 2008-2010 and he left, did Sofapaka die, no? No coach scares me, this team is bigger than any individual so he can just go.”

“He can just go if he wishes to,” Kalekwa said. 

MATANO’S LAST GAME IN CHARGE 

Matano’s ‘last game in charge’ was a 1-1 draw against Mara Sugar. He is now expected to take over from Beldine Odemba, who evidently made rings of changes to a Police side that is a pale shadow of itself. 

Odemba, the second female to ever coach a male’s team in the top division will now concentrate with the national women’s team, the Harambee Starlets who travel to Morocco for a Four Nation tournament later this week. 

ODEMBA’S WISH COMES TRUE

Four days ago, the Harambee Starlets coach led the current FKF Cup champions to a 0-0 draw against Kariobangi Sharks, a match that they could have won with ease.

Police, who sacked their entire technical bench led by Salim Babu two weeks ago, have struggled to make a mark in the league. The FKF Cup champions have won only one game, drawing five and losing one match, leaving many of their fans frustrated. 

Against KCB, they started on a wrong foot when James Kinyanjui tapping home from close range inside two minutes after a mix up in the defence. Experienced midfielder Francis Kahata restored parity in the second half when he connected from close range to salvage a point for them.