Former Kenya international goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has revealed how his wife prevented him from joining Gor Mahia after leaving AFC Leopards.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsMatasi joined AFC Leopards in 2011 and spent three years at the club before leaving as a free agent in 2014.He subsequently joined Posta Rangers before going on to play for Tusker, St George of Ethiopia, Kenya Police and Kakamega Homeboyz.##NAJAVA_MECA_9968865##However, Matasi has now disclosed that his career could have taken a different direction immediately after leaving Posta Rangers, as he was close to joining Gor Mahia.Speaking to Wollap Central on Friday, Matasi said he had already obtained his release letter and was preparing to complete the move to K'Ogalo.“I was a free agent after leaving Posta Rangers and was going to join Gor Mahia. I had my release letter and was very close to the move. I had already made up my mind.”STARS ABROAD: Ochieng bags another assist in Spain as Anyembe shines in DenmarkThe move collapsed after his wife opposed the idea of him joining Leopards' arch-rivals.“My wife was against the move, and it happened that she got hold of my release letter. She went with it to Tusker,” he explained.Matasi said he was unable to reach her initially, eventually finding out that she had taken the release letter to Tusker's Ruaraka training base.“I tried to reach her to no avail. She finally picked up while at Ruaraka [Tusker’s training base]. She argued that since I had played for Leopards, I should not move to Gor Mahia.”Harambee Stars midfielder makes return from lengthy injury in SwedenMatasi instead joined Tusker, adding another chapter to a career that saw him feature for several clubs in Kenya and Ethiopia before a match-fixing suspension eventually brought his playing career to an end.The former goalkeeper also paid tribute to veteran coach Robert 'The Lion' Matano, whom he credits with helping shape his mentality as a player.“Matano is the coach I admire the most. I affectionately refer to him as Mzae (old man),” Matasi said. “He coaches his team to win, not just to play. He can motivate you and make you do anything for his team.”Inside a Sunday in Dar es Salaam: From quiet shops to football parksMatasi joined AFC Leopards during Matano's tenure and endured a difficult start, spending nearly six months without a competitive appearance.“The team was then under Robert Matano, who was very demanding, but I managed to come up to the standards despite enduring a tough first four months,” he recalled.His breakthrough came after first-choice goalkeeper Barnabas Tiema suffered an injury.Under new coach Jan Koops, Matasi initially had to convince the Dutchman that he was ready to become the team's first-choice goalkeeper.“Coach Koops then deemed me too young for a starter. It is true I was still young then and had that youthful vigour,” he said.Motsepe opens door to three AFCON 2027 opening ceremonies
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