Matasi proves point to Ingwe as Tusker take charge

Posta Rangers goal keeper Patrick Matasi had a point to prove after standing tall against his former employers, AFC Leopards on his first SportsPesa Premier League (SPL) outing against them in a 0-0 stalemate on Sunday.

The point preserved the promoted club’s top three status and are three points behind Tusker FC who took charge at the top on 24 in place of Mathare United (23) who lost their chance to retake the lead after being held to a 2-2 draw by Western Stima.

Matasi, who formerly played for West Kenya Sugar before joining Ingwe, told Citizen Digital after the game that facing Ingwe was enough motivation after he lost his place at the Den to Lucas Indeche.

“I was elated to face my former teammates and I really wanted to show that I deserved respect in that team. It is always a pleasure to play against your former employer and grab a good result. All along I was saying I want to play this game and win.

“In such a match you must be ready for pressure from the fans but the important thing is we were able to hold them and should have won,’’ said the custodian who has started seven matches in a row, relegating Posta number one, Ian Otieno, to bench this season.

He wants to register as many clean sheets as possible, underling his commitment to help Posta finish high in the SPL while lauding his teammates efforts for their flying start to the campaign.

“A goalkeeper is always pivotal for a good team’s performance. If a goalkeeper is stopping well and his team is scoring, then you expect the kind of challenge we are giving in the league.

“Looking at Posta squad, most of the players have featured in the premier league before, therefore, they cannot be underrated as a club promoted last season. We have formidable team spirit in and every player knows what they are expected to do,” Matasi emphasised.

He says he has no regrets for leaving Leopards, a decision that was fiercely opposed by his parents when he was moving to Posta, intimating they have finally accepted his move was wise.

Coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno told Citizen Digital he was pleased with the draw that left his side challenging for an unlikely title 12 rounds into the competition.

“It was a tough match. AFC were really prepared for the game but in a game of football if you don’t take your chances, you lose the game and for us, we are happy with a point. We are a new team in the league and when you find yourself in third, that’s a pat on the back for the boys.

“If the chance presents itself, we can go all the way,” Otieno added.

Leopard’s coach Ivan Minnaert decried lack of a strong bench saying he hopes to make amends in the June transfer window, confirming he has a list of 12 he wants to bring to the Den and releasing 13 in what will be a cull on the current team.

“We can still finish in the top three going to the June break although the points we have lost in consecutive matches have jeopardized our potential,” the Belgian stated.

Mathare’s Francis Kimanzi congratulated his team for showing resilience after coming from two goals down to force the dramatic draw.

The rousing comeback was watered down by the controversy brewed by match referee, Dan Ogosi who appeared to deny Stima a legitimate last minute penalty when their substitute, Hebert Kopany was felled in the box on a swift counter.

“I’m satisfied with the point because when you make the mistakes like we did in the first half, many teams panic but the boys lifted themselves up until the last minute. We made mistakes that are not expected at this level but to come from 2-0 done is gratifying.

“The players believed they could make it and had a good second half. I’m pleased when they are down, they had the mentality to fight to the end. A point from a game such as this that we started poorly is a good point won,” a relieved Kimanzi stated.

“The game is very unpredictable, we forced them to play long balls that well handled by our defence. The first goal they scored was as a result of confusion in the defence line and that gave them some hope, they fought back and equalised in the last minute of injury time. The draw is not bad for them.

“Top 8 is not a big deal, we can manage that easily, the top three is a big chunk, that’s the challenge. We want to take every game the way it comes. We thought we would get maximum points but it was not to be,” his opposite number, Henry Omino remarked steering wide of the controversial incident.

Behind the front trio, champions Gor Mahia are breathing down on the necks of the leaders after a 2-0 victory over Muhoroni Youth lifted them to fourth and four adrift of the front-runners on Saturday.

At the other end of the table, basement side Sofapaka went down once again to make it nine loses in the campaign, three adrift of Nairobi City Stars who are in their familiar surroundings in 15th.

Report by Mike Okinyi and Jacob Icia

SportPesa Premier League Standings