Former Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has recalled the challenging start to his professional career at AFC Leopards.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe netminder revealed how he spent almost six months waiting for his opportunity before an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Barnabas Tiema opened the door.The shot-stopper joined Ingwe from West Kenya Sugar FC on 4 January, 2011, but arrived with little understanding of what a professional contract meant and had never handled the kind of money being offered to him.##NAJAVA_MECA_9968505##Caleb Sunguti, who helped facilitate the move from West Kenya, played a key role in helping the youngster adjust to life at one of the country’s biggest clubs.“West Kenya gave me the footing to kick-start my football career, but AFC gave me the platform to grow into the footballer I am. I remember when I signed for AFC Leopards on January 4, 2011. At that time, I didn’t know what a contract was and had never held in my hands the money they were offering,” he told Wollap Central in an interview released on Friday, 18 September.STARS ABROAD: Kenyan midfielder features for Charlton Athletic in English Championship“Sunguti, who helped me secure the move and come to the city, was instrumental in guiding me through and helping me understand the demands of the new environment.”Under head coach Robert Matano, the young goalkeeper was required to adjust quickly to the demands of senior football while waiting behind Tiema in the pecking order.The competition for the starting position meant he spent almost six months without making a competitive appearance.Kenyan duo finally cleared for Tanzanian Premier League action“The team was then under Robert Matano, who was very demanding, but I managed to meet the standards despite enduring a tough first four months,” he recalled.His opportunity finally arrived after Tiema suffered an injury, although coach Jan Koops was initially reluctant to hand the youngster the starting role because of his age.“I finally got my chance after Tiema got an injury. Coach Koops then deemed me too young for a starter. It is true I was still young then and had the youthful vigour,” he said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9968580##The young goalkeeper then responded by producing a crucial moment in his first opportunity, saving Pascal Ochieng’s penalty and pushing the effort onto the post as Ingwe secured a draw.He then followed that display with another strong showing in a victory over Sofapaka before being handed an even bigger examination against Tanzanian giants Simba SC away from home.That sequence of performances convinced Koops that the then youngster was ready to take over the gloves permanently.Kenya's U20 Africa Cup of Nations hopes extinguished after winless qualifier campaign“I later saved Pascal Ochieng’s penalty, which I pushed to the post, and we earned a draw. Next was Sofapaka, which we won. The next assignment was outside the country. We played Simba SC, and just that way I earned Koops’ first choice as keeper,” he explained.The penalty save, followed by the Sofapaka victory and the trip to face Simba, ultimately gave him the confidence of the technical bench and set him on the path towards becoming a regular at the highest level and eventually representing Harambee Stars.
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