NAIROBI, Kenya, March 8 – Kenya Police FC head coach Francis Baraza remains coy on reports that the club is on the verge of securing the signature of Tusker FC goalkeeper Patrick Matasi in the current transfer window.
Baraza said he would prefer not to talk over a possible deal for the former Harambee Stars number one, noting that the player is still contracted to the brewers.
“So far, the only player that we have brought in is Aboud Omar. There are a few other youngsters for who we are hoping to conclude their deals by tomorrow. I can’t give you much on Matasi because he is not yet our player. I don’t know whether he has been officially released by his club,” Baraza said.
The gaffer waxed lyrical over the former AFC Leopards and Posta Rangers netminder, describing him as the archetypal goalkeeper for the Kenya Premier League.
“He is a very good goalkeeper…I identified him when he was still a youngster, I think at West Kenya. I was then the coach at Sony Sugar and I tried to sign him for the club. In our league, if you observe keenly, most of the goals scored are usually crosses from the wings. He has the physique and is suited to coming out and claiming crosses,” Baraza said.
He was speaking on Wednesday evening in the aftermath of Police’s 3-2 win over Kariobangi Sharks in a midweek FKF Premier League match at the Moi Stadium, Kasarani.
Lethal marksman Elvis ‘Machapo’ Rupia opened the scoring for ‘Afandes’ in the 13th minute when he latched onto a cross from the right wing by Eric Juma to slot the ball past John ‘Toldo’ Otieno in the Sharks’ goal.
The slum boys, however, exerted pressure and were duly rewarded at the half hour mark courtesy of a delightful goal by captain Fortune Omotto who latched on to a loose ball in the penalty box after a couple of mind-boggling mazy dribbles by Tyson Otieno.
The law enforcers wrestled control of the tie in the second half, scoring two quick goals in the 49th and 50th minutes via an own goal and a Patillah Omotto header respectively.
Otieno scored a consolation goal for Sharks in the 86th minute after another cutback from the left wing to make for a nervy end to the game.
Despite the win, Baraza conceded that the best team lost, paying homage to their opponents’ silky playing style.
“They are a very good team…I would say the best team lost. They really like to keep the ball and do great things with it and so we had to be at our best. I would say that we won by virtue of our experience because Sharks are a very young team. We had to raid them from the flanks and I thank the Almighty for yet another victory,” he said.
Baraza added: “To be honest, I was not happy about the way we conceded the second goal. There are certain weaknesses I noted today in our game and we will go back to the drawing board to improve on the same.”
In other matches of the afternoon, defending champions Tusker FC beat Bandari FC 1-0 at Ruaraka Sports Complex as Ulinzi Stars pipped Kakamega Homeboyz with the same scoreline at Lang’ata Sports Complex.
League leaders Gor Mahia drew 2-2 with their hosts Nzoia Sugar at Sudi Stadium in Bungoma, in a top-of-the-table clash.
Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) beat Talanta 1-0 at Kasarani Annex, following on from a 1-0 win for Sofapaka against Mathare United in a lunchtime fixture at the same venue.
