Matasi rallies Tusker as they look to bounce back against Sofapaka

Tusker FC Goalkeeper Patrick Matasi during FKF Premier League match match against Bandari FC at Ruaraka grounds on Wednesday, Feb 2, 2022. [photo courtesy]

Tusker goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has urged his teammates to keep the simple fundamentals that have been key in a run of six unbeaten matches ahead of their FKF Premier League match against Sofapaka at Wundanyi Stadium on Friday.

The Harambee stars goalkeeper said the team cannot afford to drop their heads at a critical time when the second leg of the season is just getting started.

Matasi, and by extension the team, has kept six consecutive clean sheets, winning four matches. The six have taken Matasi’s run of clean sheets to eight in 10 matches.

“We were playing well and losing because of conceding easy goals and I just stirred up the boys and told them that let’s first work on conceding goals. I said that we should not concede in games and that was our starting point,” Matasi was quoted by the club’s website.

“I know that in this team we have scorers and if we can keep a clean sheet, there is a high chance we will get a goal. These simple fundamentals have worked. We have been compact as a team, worked together and everyone is going an extra mile to assist the team get good results.”

Looking forward to the game against Sofapaka on Friday afternoon Matasi said they are aiming at bouncing back to winning ways after their last draw against Ulinzi Stars.

“It is another big match for us and we hope for the best. We have prepared well because we have had enough time to rest since our last game last week Wednesday and everyone is positive and hungry for those three points.”

“Sofapaka is not an easy team to play against. When we played them in the first leg, which was my first match of the season, I noted that they play a lot of direct balls. If we can deny them those spaces to run and distribute the balls, we will make it easier for ourselves and control the game better.”