Matasi: I'm not the person in viral match-fixing videos

Patrick Matasi’s football club owner on Thursday said that the former Kenya goalkeeper had told him that he is not the person in two widely circulated videos online seemingly showing the player planning to fix a football match.

Cleophas Shimanyula, the chairman of Kakamega Homeboyz on Thursday revealed to Nation Sport that he shared the videos with Matasi, who categorically told him he had no knowledge of them. 

“When the first video emerged on Wednesday night, I sent it to him and his response was that he knows nothing about it. Today (Thursday) morning, I shared the second part with him but he said that is not him in the video. He is shocked by the videos,” said Shimanyula.

Repeated attempts to call the 37-year-old Matasi on phone were unsuccessful as he was unreachable.

In one of the videos, a person alleged to be Matasi is seen sitting inside what appears to be a vehicle, receiving instructions on match fixing from an unseen individual. 

“I repeat again before my boss. This is the first deal, I beg you. You know how we have done business. I have never let you down, and you have never let me down.

My business with you is zero failure, whatever will be given to me, straight I forward to you. Immediately I forward to you, I will give you a phone call and the boss will confirm you have received then deal is on. That first half bro, what we want must come then my deal should not go to,” said the unseen individual. 

In the other video, the person who is alleged to be Matasi is heard conversing with two other people who are all unseen. 

“Let me ask you something Matasi, can you promise us that first-half two goals. Us, we don’t need anything else like do this, this, this. First-half two goals and why we are asking you to concede is because (a second voice interjects) we will open the match.

When you concede you open the game, without you conceding, if the game goes to 20 minutes, that game is locked but if you concede especially before the game becomes hot, the game is just boiling the first attack. The first moment when the game is boiling and the goal comes, everybody will know we have conceded, guys let's fight now, guys let's fight and we will get the results,” said the second person in the video.

The person alleged to be Matasi then responds: “So what I ‘ll do, you know all this will happen with what I will talk to the defender cause the first like 10 minutes is just….”

Shimanyula stated that Kakamega Homeboyz will not take any action or investigation the goalkeeper since they cannot verify the authenticity of the videos.

“We don’t even know if it is a camera trick. As a club, we cannot act on rumours or videos that we cannot ascertain their authenticity. Matasi has played three matches and performed so well. We don’t have a problem if the coach fields him in this weekend’s match (against KCB),” said the Kakamega-based businessman.

A similar statement was made by Kakamega Homeboyz Team Manager Boniface Imbezi. “He (Matasi) was in training today. I asked him about the video and he firmly maintained that he is not the one in it. We have advised him to continue staying off social media, as he has done since joining our club and remain focused on his training."

FKF in a statement said it had launched investigations in collaboration with Fifa, CAF and other relevant bodies.

The federation also urged those with information on the matter to share with them, promising that the details will be handled with strict confidentiality. 

"We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and are committed to safeguarding the credibility of our competitions," said FKF in the statement.

"The investigation will adhere to FKF's Anti-Match Manipulation Regulations and Fifa guidelines, ensuring a fair, transparent and thorough process. The rights of the player and his  club will be respected , and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings." 

Matasi has often faced scrutiny over numerous, questionable errors both at club and national team level. He took much of the blame in Harambee Stars 4-1 loss to Cameroon in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group 'J' qualifiers at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.

He was also on the spotlight when Kenya Police FC lost to Egyptian giants Zamalek in the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round game for letting in easy goals, in just two instances of matches he has acted suspiciously. 

Matasi joined Homeboyz in February from Kenya Police. He previously played for AFC Leopards, Posta Rangers, Tusker and Saint George of Ethiopia.