NAIROBI, Kenya:– Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has strongly distanced himself from two viral videos circulating online, allegedly showing him involved in a match-fixing scheme.
His club, Kakamega Homeboyz, through chairman Cleophas Shimanyula, revealed that the goalkeeper on Thursday strongly denied any knowledge of the videos as the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) probes the allegations.
“When the first video emerged on Wednesday night, I sent it to him, and his response was that he knows nothing about it. Today (Thursday) morning, I shared the second part with him, but he said that is not him in the video. He is shocked by the videos,” Shimanyula was quoted by NationSport.
Efforts by the Kenyan news outlet to reach the 37-year-old Matasi for comment were unsuccessful, as his phone remained unreachable.
In one of the videos, a person, alleged to be Matasi, is seen inside a vehicle receiving instructions on match-fixing from an unseen individual.
The conversation suggests a deliberate attempt to manipulate a game’s outcome, with the unseen individual saying, “I have never let you down, and you have never let me down. My business with you is zero failure.”
Another video features the alleged Matasi in discussion with two other unidentified individuals, seemingly planning to concede two goals in the first half of a match. The conversation hints at a scheme where an early goal would “open the game” and influence betting outcomes.
Despite the controversy, Shimanyula stressed that Kakamega Homeboyz would not initiate an investigation against Matasi, citing the inability to verify the videos’ authenticity. “We don’t even know if it is a camera trick. As a club, we cannot act on rumours or videos that we cannot ascertain their authenticity,” he said.
“Matasi has played three matches and performed well. We don’t have a problem if the coach fields him in this weekend’s match against KCB,” Shimanyula added.
FKF General Secretary Harold Ndege confirmed Thursday that the governing body is looking into the matter. “We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and are committed to safeguarding the credibility of our competitions.”
“This investigation will adhere to FKF’s Anti-Match Manipulation Regulations and FIFA guidelines, ensuring a fair, transparent, and thorough process. The rights of the player and his club will be respected, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings,” Ndege said.
About Patrick Matasi
Matasi, who recently joined Kakamega Homeboyz from Kenya Police FC, has had a decorated career playing for AFC Leopards, Posta Rangers, Tusker, and Ethiopia’s Saint George.
However, he has faced scrutiny over costly errors in key matches, including Kenya’s 4-1 loss to Cameroon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
He was also on the spotlight when Kenya Police FC lost to Egyptian giants Zamalek in the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round game for letting in easy goals in just two instances of matches in which he acted suspiciously.
Send us your story or opinion on: dailyexpressug@gmail.com. You can also follow Daily Express on WhatsApp for all the latest news and updates.
