Former Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi is eyeing a return to football as Kenya prepares to host a team of Arsenal greats in the Legends Cup at Nyayo National Stadium.
The highly anticipated exhibition match is scheduled for Friday, 13 November, and will pit 20 former Arsenal players against 20 retired Kenyan internationals.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport on Monday, Matasi said the fixture offers a chance to return to competitive action after more than a year out.
“I feel this is my chance to start getting back into football. I will try to get a place and represent my nation with dignity,” he said.
Matasi, 38, has been out of competitive football since joining Kakamega Homeboyz in January 2025. His career was subsequently interrupted following a provisional suspension after the Football Kenya Federation opened an investigation into alleged match manipulation.
A place in the Legends team would mark his first major appearance since his last cap for Harambee Stars in October 2024 against Cameroon.
Matasi remains one of Kenya’s most experienced goalkeepers. He made his senior debut in a 1-1 friendly draw against Uganda on 23 March 2017 under former head coach Stanley Okumbi and went on to earn 35 caps.
His most memorable moment came at the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, where he saved three penalties in the final against Zanzibar to help Kenya lift the trophy. He was named both the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Best Goalkeeper.
He was Kenya’s first-choice at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, starting all three group matches against Algeria, Tanzania and Senegal, and making 12 saves including a penalty stop against Sadio Mané. He was also part of the squad that won the 2024 Four Nations Tournament in Malawi, featuring in both the semi-final against Malawi and the final against Zimbabwe.
Arsenal Legends Expected in Nairobi
The Arsenal delegation expected in Nairobi includes some of the club’s most recognisable names from the last two decades.
Among those listed are former Ivory Coast internationals Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Eboué, French World Cup winner Robert Pirès, Ashley Cole, Gilberto Silva, Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Alex Song, Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs, Johan Djourou, Lukasz Fabianski, Gervinho, Martin Keown, Tony Adams, Mikael Silvestre, Philippe Senderos, Yossi Benayoun, Jay Bothroyd, Steve Sidwell and Yaya Sanogo.
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