Posta Rangers goalkeeper Patrick Matasi with his golden glove award during the KPL awards gala in Nairobi on December 13,2016. PHOTO/Timothy Olobulu
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 16- Posta Rangers shot stopper Patrick Matasi has paid tribute to his Gor Mahia counterpart Boniface Oluoch, admitting he does not expect to dethrone him for the national team number one jersey any time soon.
Despite toppling him for the 2016 golden glove award, Matasi still believes Oluoch is the best pick based on his current form and he will remain patient as he awaits an opportunity to don national colors.
“If you look at how Boni (Oluoch) is performing in the national team, he is keeping clean sheets, we are winning matches. Right now I can’t say I am going to play. My time will come, as long as I continue being called up I will work hard to get there,” Matasi told Capital Sports.
“Right now, Boni is ranked as Kenya one. For me, I know the day will come, I will be given a chance and I know I will perform,” Matasi added.
The former AFC Leopards player termed it a dream come true winning the golden glove after stiff competition from Oluoch and Tusker’s David Okello who were second and third respectively.
“I have been waiting for this accolade and finally I have won. It was my dream this year to have this award and I am pleased especially because I did it under stiff competition with some of the best keepers in the country,” Oluoch added.
Matasi started the season playing second fiddle to Ian Otieno who was the captain then. However, he got his chance after Otieno, who later decamped to AFC Leopards fell out with head coach Zedekiah Otieno.
An improved performance, coupled with the second meanest defense in the league ensured he maintained the clean sheets and he attributes the consistency to constant push from the coach and team manager Pascal Ochieng.
“When we went for team building in Loitoktok at the beginning of the season, the technical bench said that at least two people from Posta have to win an award at the end of the year. That pushed me to work hard. Coach Zico and the team manager were constantly on my neck and that helped me to keep on toes,” Matasi noted.
He now hopes to maintain the same momentum next season and hopes the new coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo will be of positive influence to the team as they bid to push into the top five.
