Humphrey Katasi: The safest pair of hands in FKF Premier League

AFC Leopards goalkeeper Humprey Katasi has set his sights on a second Golden Glove award with nine matches remaining in the 2024/25 Football Kenya Federation Premier League.

According to the latest records, the 27-year-old former Nzoia Sugar custodian is the undisputed safest pair of hands in the 18-team competition this season.

He has kept a league-leading 11 clean sheets in 20 appearances, out of the 25 matches Leopards have played.

Shabana’s Stephen Ochieng' has also kept 11 clean sheets, but from 23 matches played, making him statistically less efficient than the Leopards goalkeeper.

Bandari’s Allain Ngeleka, Issa Emuria of Bidco United and Police’s Job Ochieng’, have kept nine clean sheets each.

Leopards lie second on the league log with 49 points, and have conceded 18 goals, the second joint lowest in the league with leaders Gor Mahia, after Police’s 17.

“It has been a good season for me. I have been pushing myself so that we win the league title, and we will fight to the end.  I’m optimistic I will win the Golden Glove,” said a beaming Katasi.

He picked up a knee injury in their 1-0 loss to KCB on February 26 that has kept him out of action for almost a month and counting. He did not play in Leopards 5-1 thrashing of Shabana on March 1, 4-1 surprising loss to Mathare United on March 14 and 1-0 victory against Nairobi United four days later.

“I feel bad to be out of action because I would have added to my clean sheet numbers. But I will be back most likely in another month, and I can continue with my duties at AFC Leopards as we fight for the title,” he added.

Katasi is not new to keeping his net clean. He scooped the Premiership Golden Glove in the 2022/23 season with 17 clean sheets while turning out for Nzoia Sugar.

Last season, Kenya Police’s Ochieng’ won the Golden Glove with 13 clean sheets, while in the 2023/24 season, Gor Mahia custodian Kevin Omondi went home with the accolade after maintaining 19 clean sheets.

This is Katasi’s second season with Leopards, and it has been a journey of resilience for the former goalie of St Anthony’s Kitale High School.

In his maiden season with Leopards in 2023/24, Katasi was fielded just seven times as he played second fiddle to first-choice keeper Levis Opiyo. However, Katasi showed his worth with four clean sheets. The following season of 2024/25, he remained lower on the goalkeeper pecking order at Ingwe and recorded four clean sheets from eight matches played.

The exit of Opiyo saw Katasi step up with confidence as he took command of the goalie jersey in a fantastic season only blighted by his recent injury.

“It requires patience, and I came to Leopards just from being a Golden Boot winner, but I had to work extra hard to earn my position,” said the self-confessed Manchester City fan who draws his goalkeeping skills from their former Brazilian custodian Ederson.

“Ederson gets involved in play and builds up, and that is what I always aspire to do,” says Katasi.

Despite being a Premier League Golden Glove winner, Katasi has never received a call-up to the national team, but has not given up on getting that honour someday.

“Selection is the prerogative of the coach, but my time will come. He (Benni McCarthy) said he needed experience, as lack of that is what made us lose heavily to Senegal last year, so I have no ill feeling about being snubbed,” he said in reference to the naming of the Harambee Stars team or the 2026 Fifa Series that kicks off in Kigali, Rwanda, on Friday.

He has played for Kenya Under-18, Kenya Under-19 and Kenya Under-20 and will want to crown his international career with a senior team cap. Another Golden Glove award will do him no harm.

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