Humphrey Katasi has led Nzoia Sugar FC out the tunnel twenty times this season. Playing all the matches in what could be the sugar-millers’ best season yet. Despite experiencing a slump in the table standings, Coach Salim Babu’s men still stay within touching distance of league leaders Gor Mahia FC with fourteen matches yet to play before the close of the 2022/23 FKF Premier League season.Katasi believes the game is still on. ”It’s never over until it’s over.” he says.”We haven’t won in a while and that’s the way the top flight goes sometimes. You experience a slump especially when you are flying high. Our recent fixtures have been very tough and any point gained is a plus for us because every other team right now fears playing against us.”Nzoia have lost only three times this season, two less than second-place KCB FC and have been undone by a series of draws- their most recent one coming against Kenya Police FC in Sudi. Himself chasing a personal best clean sheet record, Katasi intends to make the most of the remaining fixtures and come out on top. His defenses have not been breached 9 of the 20 times he’s led Nzoia this season.##NAJAVA_MECA_7117419##”It would be nice to finish in the top three best goalkeepers at the end of the season and I still believe I’m in the race. Credit goes to my entire team for always ensuring I am well covered, which makes the work a little easier. Without that discipline in defense, we wouldn’t be talking about that number of clean sheets at this stage of the season,” adds the man who has only featured for Nzoia Sugar since leaving high school in 2015. Harambee Stars coach warns moles within the teamKatasi has been a fringe player in the past for the Sugar millers, having to bide his time while seasoned names as Benson Mangala and former Nzoia man Mustapha Odwour took center-stage and his recent form is a coming of age. He admits to it not being easy waiting all those years to be number one. ”Hard work and patience, those two have kept me going. I studied well under experienced goalkeepers, much credit to them for where I am now,” he says.The lad recently missed out on the Kenya national team selection to much outcry from Nzoia Sugar fans who believe he at least deserved a mention in coach Engin Firat’s team. Nzoia will however have to be content with the two names from their camp called up to the Harambee Stars squad-forwards Joseph Mwangi and Hassan Beja. They host former Coach Bernard Mwalala’s Ulinzi Stars FC on the 29th of March when the league resumes after the international break.
