Harambee Stars legend Elijah Onsika has endorsed coach Engin Firat’s decision to drop goalkeeper Patrick Matasi from the squad ahead of Kenya’s crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Namibia. Onsika, a former Kenyan international, believes that Matasi’s recent performances have not been up to standard, and it was time for a change between the posts.
Kenya faces a do-or-die situation in their upcoming matches, both scheduled to take place in South Africa. The Harambee Stars need to secure victories against Zimbabwe and Namibia while hoping results elsewhere work in their favor to qualify for next year’s AFCON tournament in Morocco. Firat, in his squad announcement, made the bold decision to leave out Matasi, who had been a regular in goal for the national team. Instead, he called up KCB’s Farouk Shikalo, alongside Bryne Omondi of Bandari and Ian Otieno, who plays for Richards Bay in South Africa.
Onsika supports Firat’s decision, noting that Matasi’s recent performances, including a disastrous 4-0 loss to Cameroon last month, had raised concerns. Matasi was subsequently dropped in the return match against Cameroon, which ended in a 1-0 defeat for Kenya. Onsika emphasized that such high-profile games required a goalkeeper who was both consistent and focused, something that Matasi had struggled to provide.
“I believe Firat made the right decision to drop Patrick. We all know what he has been doing when given the opportunity to play, and the two matches (against Zimbabwe and Namibia) need a focused goalkeeper if Kenya is to get something positive in their quest to qualify,” Onsika commented. He went on to say that Matasi’s repeated mistakes had undermined the team’s efforts, and he could no longer be trusted in such critical encounters.
The former Kisumu Poster player expressed disappointment over Matasi’s lack of improvement, despite numerous chances to redeem himself. He described the goalkeeper’s blunders as “catastrophic” and lamented that they had become a regular feature of his performances. For Onsika, Matasi’s inability to rectify these errors meant that it was time for a change, and the inclusion of Shikalo, in particular, seemed like the right move.
Shikalo has been in excellent form for KCB this season, helping his team maintain a strong position at the top of the Kenyan Premier League standings. Onsika praised the 27-year-old’s performances and suggested that his current form made him the ideal candidate to step into the starting lineup for Kenya’s must-win games.
“Shikalo has done well this season, he’s been in top form, helping KCB to stay at the top of the league. He seems to have rediscovered his form, and I know that if given the opportunity by Firat, he will perform well,” Onsika said.
The decision to drop Matasi was not an easy one, considering his past experience and the fact that he has been a fixture in the national team for several years. However, with the stakes so high in these final qualifiers, Firat has opted for a fresh approach in goal. Kenya’s goalkeeping situation has been a topic of debate for some time, with inconsistency among the options available to the national team. By bringing in Shikalo, Firat is hoping to find a solution that will give Kenya the best chance of securing the points they need to qualify.
The two matches, against Zimbabwe on November 15 and Namibia on November 19, are pivotal for Kenya’s hopes of making it to the AFCON finals for the first time since 2019. The Harambee Stars will also be keeping an eye on the results of the Cameroon-Zimbabwe game, hoping that the Warriors fail to secure maximum points, which would improve Kenya’s chances of advancing.
In the face of mounting pressure, Firat’s decision to drop Matasi could be a turning point for the Harambee Stars. With a new goalkeeper in the mix, the team will be hoping for a fresh sense of confidence and stability at the back as they aim to make a push for qualification.
