Rogers Mato is making it increasingly difficult for Hearts to overlook him. The Ugandan winger underlined his growing influence with a goal and a player-of-the-match performance as Hearts swept Stenhousemuir 3-0 at Ochilview on Friday to storm into the Premier Sports Cup semifinals.
Mato, who also scored against Inverness in the previous round, struck with a blistering burst of pace before calmly slotting past Darren Jamieson to double Hearts’ lead.
It was another timely reminder of what he can offer after limited opportunities under former manager Derek McInnes had left supporters wondering why the Ugandan was not featuring more.
Now, under Wouter Vrancken, Mato is getting his chance and taking it.
“The result was important because you’re going to Hampton and it’s what we’re talking about in the dressing room. And it’s good for us,” Mato said.
“It’s a good confidence for the boys, for the technical team and for all of the squad.”
Mato’s pace was so striking that even Stenhousemuir boss Marvin Bartley was left searching for comparisons.
“The second goal is really disappointing from our point of view,” Bartley said.
“We’ve got a chance to play it first time but as soon as the ball is turned over, they’re so athletic.
“I think Mato is the quickest player I’ve ever seen. I used to think Martin Boyle was fast, but wow!”
Vrancken is also beginning to see the best of the Ugandan, praising his pace, strength and willingness to learn while urging him to trust his natural instincts.
“He has a bit of pace, you can say that!” the Hearts boss said.
“He has qualities and is such a good guy. He wants to do everything perfect so he’s really coachable but he thinks too much sometimes.
“You see when he is finding his game inside what we want, then he can bring his extra quality.”
That quality is not limited to attacking. Vrancken was particularly pleased with Mato’s defensive contribution as Stenhousemuir resorted to long balls after the break.
“He competes and wins those duels,” Vrancken added.
For Mato, life under Vrancken is already proving more rewarding.
“All is good. Yeah, I’m getting some minutes, you can see. Yeah, and I’m always in the squad,” he said.
“He’s a good manager and he’s always pushing us, always pushing the squad to do better. You have to be better as a person to get minutes.
“So you have to push every day, but I think life is good with him.”
JJ Williams had earlier opened the scoring on his first Hearts start, while substitute Yan Dhanda completed the rout with his first goal since January 2025.
But it was Mato who stole the spotlight and with the Uganda Cranes call-up for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Tunisia and Libya, followed by friendlies against DR Congo, coming at the perfect time, the winger could hardly have asked for a better run into the international break.