Former Harambee Stars coaches, James Nandwa and Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee, have called on current coach Engin Firat to select one reliable goalkeeper and stick with him, following recent errors by Patrick Matasi in Kenya’s 4-1 loss to Cameroon in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Yaoundé.
Matasi’s mistakes, particularly his mishandling of a shot from Martin Hongla, which resulted in Cameroon’s second goal, and his inability to stop Christian Bassogog’s weak effort for the fourth, have sparked criticism from Kenyan fans. Both Nandwa and Mulee believe that Firat needs to make a permanent choice in the goalkeeping department to avoid further issues.
Nandwa, who coached the Harambee Stars between 2012 and 2013, questioned Firat’s approach in an interview with Pulse Sports, stating, “Why doesn’t he pick the best goalkeeper? We have many good options, so there’s no need to keep fielding the same player if he’s making mistakes.”
He further explained that changing goalkeepers frequently can disrupt team cohesion. “Matasi might be a good shot-stopper, but he could struggle with decision-making or playing out from the back. Another goalkeeper might excel in different areas but lack concentration. It’s important for the coach to find a balance and protect the goalkeeper by not exposing him too much. But at the same time, a goalkeeper needs to provide stability to the team.”
Drawing a parallel to Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana, Nandwa added, “Like Onana said, he believes in himself despite criticism. That confidence is crucial for a goalkeeper.”
Jacob Mulee, who has coached Kenya in four different stints and is a former goalkeeper himself, shared Nandwa’s concerns. Speaking on Radio Jambo, Mulee criticized Matasi’s performance, saying, “It was disappointing, especially from a goalkeeper’s perspective. Goalkeeping is a position you can’t experiment with. Even someone like Andre Onana, who has faced criticism at Manchester United, continues to play because consistency is key in that role.”
Coach Firat has rotated his goalkeepers in recent matches. Bryne Omondi was in goal for Kenya’s 0-0 draw against Zimbabwe and their 2-1 win over Namibia in September, before being replaced by Matasi for the match against Cameroon. Both Nandwa and Mulee believe that this inconsistency in selection needs to be addressed for Kenya to improve defensively.
