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Kenya international Patrick Matasi has joined Ethiopian side Saint George SC from Tusker FC, the goalkeeper confirmed on Thursday. Matasi has ditched the Brewers for undisclosed fee, six months after he joined the club from Kenyan Premier League side Posta Rangers. "I have today committed to play for the mighty Saint George for the next three years," Matasi announced in a post on his Facebook page. "It is a challenge I accept with confidence and excitement. I believe this is the right moment for me to take over this new assignment." Matasi started out at the now defunct West Kenya Sugar FC in 2010, and then moved to AFC Leopards in 2011. He won the Gotv Shield with Leopards in 2013 and, after falling out of favour at Leopards, he left the club for Posta Rangers in December 2014. "I wish to sincerely thank coach Fanuel Ivungwe who offered me a chance to play as a goalkeeper at West Kenya Sugar at the start of my career in 2010," he continued. "I also wish to appreciate the efforts made by coaches Jan Koops, Haggai Azande, Robert Matano and Sammy 'Pamzo' Omollo and Lawrence Webo, who made me a better player in one way or another. "I also thank the Tusker management, led by chairman Daniel Aduda, CEO Charles Obiny and coach Matano for giving their blessings to this move." Matasi is currently Kenya's first-choice keeper, and started during the Harambee Stars' successful Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup campaign in 2017. He was subsequently named keeper of the tournament, and stole the show with his final heroics, when he saved three penalties against Zanzibar. He was also in goal during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Ghana and Ethiopia as Kenya edged closer to qualifying for the biennial showpiece. "Crucially, this move will motivate me to work harder to retain the Kenya national team jersey as we prepare to play at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon," he added. At Saint George, he will replace Uganda keeper Robert Odongkara, who quit the Saints for Adam City FC earlier this week. Matasi becomes the second Kenyan keeper to play in the Ethiopian Premier League after Zachariah Onyango, who played for Ethiopian Coffee SC.
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