Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has threatened to retire from professional football once his deal with Tusker expires if the team continues to hold on to him.
The Tusker goalkeeper has made it known that he wants to join Kenya Police.
Since then, Matasi has returned to Kakamega County where he was born.
Matasi has put it clear that he is pushing for Tusker to release him unconditionally because at his age, he only has a few years before retirement and was looking forward to life after football as a police officer.
“My contract ends on August 31 next year but this is an employment I have got. Why should my club insist on me buying out my contract yet I’m set to join the National Police Service and not Kenya Police football club,” he added, while vowing that he wouldn’t attend any training session to force his move to Police.
“I will not join Tusker training. This is my life,” he vowed.
Matasi revealed that Kenya Police were not offering him any signing fee and the law enforcers were ready to buy out his contract for Sh200,000.
He said Tusker turned down the offer without quoting any amount but he understood that they were only willing to part with for a fee not less than Sh1 million.
“I have pleaded with Tusker to feel my situation because this is a job offer and my future. I have served the team diligently before and they have been there for me during hard times.
“Why not release me now when my future is at stake?’’ he posed.
IMG Kenya Director Charles Gacheru, who is now in charge of the club, said that Matasi was their player and Kenya Police have to follow the right procedure to acquire him.
“Police FC wrote to Tusker FC requesting for the release of Matasi. They did say that they had offered him a job in the future. Tusker FC did write back and indicated that ordinarily they would not be selling Matasi,” said Gacheru.
“However, since they had offered him a job, then a release was agreed but under Fifa regulations. Tusker FC have asked Police to table an offer, none has been received to date. Matasi remains a contracted Tusker FC player,” he added.
Matasi rejoined Tusker in August last year on a two-year contract after being released by St George’s SC from Ethiopia.
He had initially left the club in 2018 for Ethiopia after staying with them for just six months.
The Kenya goalkeeper has previously featured for FKF-PL side Posta Rangers and AFC Leopards.
He prominently featured for Harambee Stars at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
He then joined Tusker from where he regained full fitness and went ahead to win last season’s Golden Glove in the FKF-PL.
