Kakamega Homeboyz have officially reinstated veteran goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, just a day after the High Court in Kakamega issued orders stopping the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) from enforcing a 90-day suspension linked to match-fixing allegations.The 37-year-old, who was suspended on March 27, faced a temporary ban from all FKF-sanctioned competitions after online videos triggered concerns of potential match manipulation.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsHowever, in a turn of events, Matasi took legal action and successfully challenged the suspension in court.##NAJAVA_MECA_8842569##The ruling, delivered by Judge S.N. Mbungi at the Kakamega High Court on Tuesday, March 8, named Matasi as the petitioner and FKF as the respondent.The court granted interim orders halting the ban, instructed FKF to file a response within 30 days, and set June 4 as the hearing date.Following the court’s decision, Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula confirmed that the club had received and verified the legitimacy of the court order.“I received the court order today (Wednesday), and I did the effort to enquire with the court whether it was genuine. The court has responded that it is a genuine court order, and as a club that respects the rule of law in the country, we don’t have any option but to accept Matasi back in our squad,” Shimanyula told Flashscore.Ambrose Rachier secures another term as Gor Mahia chairmanHe added, “Matasi decided to fight his own war (against FKF’s decision to suspend him), Homeboyz was not involved, and he is now free to play. We can’t go against the court order — we have to respect it — and it is upon the coach to see whether he is fit enough to be involved starting now.”Coach Babu: We’re set for Afcon challengeShimanyula also revealed that the club had initially halted Matasi’s salary in line with the FKF directive, but would now reinstate his pay following the court’s intervention.“Immediately FKF had suspended him, we moved to stop his salary from going through, but now that he has a court order reinstating him, we have re-opened his salary, and he will start getting monthly payments as the rest of the squad members.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8842559##Homeboyz are set to return to action on Saturday, April 12, with a domestic Cup Round of 16 clash against fellow FKF Premier League side Shabana FC at Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu.Matasi could feature if deemed fit by the technical bench.
