Uganda Cranes forward Rogers Mato has revealed how Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah embraced him after their UEFA Conference League encounter, offering words of encouragement following an unexpected defensive assignment.
Mato, naturally a winger, was deployed at left-back during Hearts’ 2-0 defeat to Trabzonspor in Turkey on Thursday, October 22.
Despite playing outside his preferred position, the 23-year-old impressed against one of Africa’s most accomplished footballers, earning praise from Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken.
However, it was Salah’s gesture after the final whistle that left a lasting impression on the Ugandan international.
“At the end Salah just gave me a hug and wished us all the best for the next games,” Mato told The Scottish Sun.
Mato explained that receiving encouragement from players of Salah’s stature gives younger footballers confidence and strengthens their belief in their abilities.
For the former KCCA forward, the encounter represented a special moment in his career, having grown up admiring some of the biggest names in world football.
“Playing against him is a dream come true,” Mato said.
From winger to Salah’s marker
Mato revealed that he only discovered he would be playing at left-back during Hearts’ morning walk on matchday.
Vrancken had deliberately waited until the morning to inform him of the assignment, with Mato joking that knowing the previous evening might have left him struggling to sleep.
The positional switch followed an injury crisis that significantly reduced Hearts’ defensive options.
Harry Milne suffered a serious knee injury during training, while Stuart Findlay, Oisin McEntee and Laurent Mendy were also unavailable.
Consequently, Vrancken moved Mato into defence and deployed Jordi Altena in midfield as Hearts attempted to reorganise their side.
For Mato, the assignment was particularly unusual because he had not regularly played as a full-back since childhood.
“I was 12 at the time, but they moved me up front because of my pace,” he explained.
More than a decade later, the Ugandan found himself operating on the left side of defence against Salah, a player renowned for his movement, pace and attacking intelligence.
A demanding evening against Salah
Mato acknowledged the difficulty of defending against the Egyptian, particularly his ability to exploit spaces and punish lapses in concentration.
The experience required the Ugandan to adjust his positioning, remain disciplined and balance his defensive responsibilities against Salah’s attacking threat.
Although Hearts eventually lost, Mato produced several encouraging moments in individual duels against the former Liverpool forward.
His contribution was particularly notable given his limited experience playing in defence.
Vrancken praised the Ugandan’s adaptability and defensive performance after the match.
“Mato on the left was unbelievable defensively,” the Hearts manager said.
The assessment underlined the confidence Vrancken had placed in Mato despite the unusual assignment.
Salah nevertheless played a decisive role in the result, converting a 31st-minute penalty before setting up Franculino Dju for Trabzonspor’s second goal in the 58th minute.
Hearts had earlier threatened through Malachi Fagan-Walcott, whose header struck the post, but the Scottish side could not find a breakthrough.
Salah’s shirt that got away
Beyond the result, Mato had hoped to return home with another reminder of his encounter with the Egyptian superstar.
The Ugandan admitted that he tried to obtain Salah’s jersey after the final whistle but was unsuccessful.
“I tried to get his shirt, but I didn’t. I think Calvin Miller got it,” Mato revealed.
Although he missed out on the shirt, Mato received something equally memorable when Salah embraced him and wished Hearts well in their forthcoming matches.
The gesture added a personal dimension to an evening that had already provided one of the most unusual challenges of Mato’s career.
With Hearts continuing to manage defensive injuries, the Ugandan could be called upon to operate at left-back again.
His willingness to adapt has demonstrated another dimension to his game, particularly as he continues establishing himself in European football.
The encounter also provided an encouraging example of a Ugandan international competing against one of the continent’s biggest football stars.
Mato may have left Turkey without Salah’s shirt or a positive result, but he returned with valuable experience, his manager’s praise and a memorable exchange with the Egyptian.