I hadn’t eaten for a week – Patrick Matasi opens up on painful life after match-fixing claims

Former Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has opened up about the painful period he went through after match-fixing claims disrupted his career in March 2025.

In an emotional interview released on Friday, September 18, 2026, Matasi revealed that he isolated himself at home, switched off his phone and went for about a week without eating as he struggled to cope with the fallout.

Matasi explained that from March 27, 2025, he locked himself inside his house, sleeping during the day and watching movies at night.

He said he had cut himself off from the outside world and did not want to talk about what he was going through.

“Since 27th March, eh, nilijifungia kwenye nyumba. Nilikuwa nalalanga mchana, usiku nawatch movie,” Matasi explained.

He went on to reveal that he still had the poison he had considered using during that difficult period.

“Bro, hadi wa leo, hiyo poison niko nayo bado iko tu kwenye nyumba. Yes, iko. Na mahali nimeiweka hakuna mtu anayeweza ipata,” he revealed.

Matasi also disclosed just how low he had reached, saying he had contemplated taking his own life.

“Kama sikut commit suicide, eh, I think nitakufa kifo yenye Mungu amenipangia,” the former Harambee Stars goalkeeper said.

Mother’s prayers changed everything

Matasi recalled April 5, 2025 as a defining moment during the ordeal, when his mother arrived at his home.

He said he heard her praying outside the door at a moment when he was struggling the most.

“The day niliamka, nikitaka kuweka tu kwenye mdomo hivi, nilisikia kwa mlango mamangu mzazi anaomba,” Matasi recalled.

He added that by then he had gone almost a week without eating, had switched off his phone and was completely isolated.

“Nikuwa namaaliza week sikuli. Nimefunga simu. Niko tu kwenye nyumba. My mum coming ilichange everything,” he explained.

According to Matasi, his mother’s arrival and prayers became a major turning point during the difficult period.

What happened to Matasi?

The personal crisis came after an undated video surfaced online in March 2025 that appeared to show Matasi discussing a possible arrangement to influence the outcome of a football match.

The video sparked match-fixing claims, although Matasi denied being the person shown. FKF subsequently provisionally suspended him for 90 days from all federation-sanctioned competitions and launched an investigation in collaboration with FIFA, CAF and other relevant authorities.