Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi joins Kakamega Homeboyz on a two-year contract

Kenya’s national team goalkeeper, Patrick Matasi, aged 37, has officially joined Kakamega Homeboyz from Kenya Police FC, marking a new chapter in his career.

The experienced shot-stopper, previously with Posta Rangers, found himself sidelined at Police, primarily due to a string of underwhelming performances that led coach Etienne Ndayiragije to favour second-choice keeper Job Ochieng.

Despite these challenges, Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has announced the club’s acquisition of Matasi’s talents on a two-year deal.

“He has assured us of his commitment to delivering his utmost best. Every player faces challenging periods, and rather than dismiss them, we choose to offer another opportunity. That’s why I’ve opted to give Matasi this chance to excel at Homeboyz,” Shimanyula stated.

He added: “Our primary aim remains to clinch the FKF Premier League title and the domestic cup by season’s end. Matasi has vowed to give his all to help us achieve our goals this season.”

Further commenting on the signing, the Homeboyz chairman remarked: “He is our inaugural signing of the current transfer window; however, we aim to recruit an additional four to five players in specific areas as recommended by our technical team, to enhance our bid for both the league and domestic cup titles.”

Matasi’s troubles began last year when he was excluded from the squad by former Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Zimbabwe and Namibia.

In the fixtures of Group J, Kenya secured a draw of 1-1 against Zimbabwe and ended up 0-0 with Namibia’s Brave Warriors.

Moreover, Matasi was left out for the two-legged 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying clash against South Sudan.

Even though Kenya qualified as co-hosts, they faced defeat against the Bright Stars, who triumphed 2-0 in the first leg held in Juba, with the return leg ending in a 1-1 stalemate, resulting in South Sudan advancing with a 3-1 aggregate.

“In the build-up to the game against Zimbabwe, we had played eight matches, scoring eight goals and conceding only two against Burundi and Zimbabwe during the Four-Nation tournament,” Matasi recounted.

“When we began the AFCON qualifiers in Uganda, I was puzzled by the coach’s decision not to play me, so I confronted him after the game. “I presented him the facts and told him, ‘Coach, I’ve played eight matches, scored eight goals, conceded just two, which is commendable, and in the last match against Ivory Coast in Malawi, I kept a clean sheet. What went wrong?'”

The timing of Matasi’s signing comes as Homeboyz has also announced a sponsorship renewal with leading gaming firm, Mozzartbet Kenya Limited, which will see their partnership extend for another year.

Since beginning their collaboration with Mozzartbet through a three-year contract on December 29, 2020, the club marked its fifth year of partnership with the gaming company on Monday.

Shimanyula expressed his satisfaction over the renewed agreement with the premier gaming firm and expressed confidence in the club’s title aspirations.

“With this renewal, we are set to make five additional signings in the upcoming mid-season transfer window, aimed at winning the FKF Premier League title,” he affirmed.

Currently, Homeboyz is situated eighth in the Premier League standings with 26 points accrued from 18 matches. Matasi is expected to be in the frame as they prepare to face a struggling Nairobi City Stars on Saturday, February 9.