Goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has explained why he was on the bench for Kenya Police FC’s last three games against Kariobangi Sharks, KCB FC, and AFC Leopards before making a comeback against Nairobi City Stars on Wednesday.The Kenyan international relinquished the starting berth to his understudy, Job Ochieng. Coincidentally, during that period, the law enforcers did not win any of their games and were rooted at the bottom of the table with eight points before Wednesday’s victory, which lifted them off the basement.##NAJAVA_MECA_8547495##The win was coach Etienne Ndayiragije’s first since taking over at the club last week. He began with a 1-0 loss to Leopards before overcoming Nicholas Muyoti’s charges to lift the club to 13th in the table with 11 points.In the three games prior to yesterday’s match, there had been much talk about Matasi, who has been the undisputed starter between the posts for Police for the last two seasons.Some speculated that his absence from the starting lineup could be linked to the errors he committed during Harambee Stars’ game against Cameroon in Yaoundé in October, where he was at fault for at least two goals in the 4-1 drubbing—a result that played a part in Kenya failing to qualify for the 2025 AFCON.Ndayiragije off the mark at Police as Law Enforcers gun down City Stars at DandoraAfter the game against Simba wa Nairobi, Matasi spoke to the media and explained that it was his decision to take a rest. He said he talked to the technical bench and requested some time off.”I talked to the technical bench and requested some time off to rest and reflect after a difficult run, and now I’m back,” he said.He added that it has not been easy for him since the game in Cameroon, as he has been under fire from fans and was dropped for the CHAN qualifiers against South Sudan. He hopes to build on the win over Simba wa Nairobi.“Since the AFCON qualifiers match against Cameroon, it hasn’t been easy for me. I hope that today’s win helps me focus more on the upcoming games and forget whatever happened in the past.”Police will host Mara Sugar on Saturday in their next assignment.Kenya to grace CAF African Schools Football Championship qualifiers in Uganda
