Over six months ago, Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy made it clear that there was one player who would never be part of his plans.

Today, as Kenya competes in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and sets its sights on the AFCON 2027 journey, that stance remains unchanged.

The South African football legend, who took over the national team earlier this year, has been busy assessing local talent for future tournaments. But one name — Patrick Matasi — is not on his radar.

The former Manchester United forward faces a whirlwind start at Barcelona, with off-field drama and uncertainty overshadowing his early matches.

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The goalkeeper’s 90-day suspension in March following match-fixing allegations has cast a long shadow, and McCarthy publicly stated he wants no association with him.

“There is no place for people like that in our sport and I am glad I never got to cross paths with this player and he never got to play for me as well, so good luck to him,” McCarthy told NTV’s SportOn in April.

The allegations emerged when a video surfaced online, allegedly showing the Kakamega Homeboyz veteran receiving instructions on match manipulation from an unidentified individual.

The South African gaffer masterminded two gritty CHAN 2024 results, guiding Kenya past Morocco, Angola despite back-to-back red card setbacks.

FKF responded swiftly, provisionally suspending the 37-year-old and enlisting the help of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to probe the matter.

McCarthy, a former Manchester United forwards’ coach, didn’t mince his words at the time.

“For me, I have no sympathy, whatever punishment comes, and I hope the authorities are going after the people that got this player to do that to begin with because we do not need these kinds of people in our sport…I am just glad I wasn’t the coach who played this goalkeeper,” he said.

Matasi denied the allegations, with Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula defending him.

“When the first video emerged at night, I sent it to him, and he responded that he knew nothing about it. I shared the second part with him, but he said it wasn’t him in the video. He is shocked by the videos,” Shimanyula told Nation Sport.

Benni McCarthy has responded to the growing fan rallying cry ahead of Kenya’s CHAN clash with Morocco.

Despite his denials, the cloud over Matasi’s career remains. Once a dependable name between the posts for both club and country, he has faced scrutiny over questionable performances in recent years. The latest scandal has only deepened doubts about his place in Kenya’s football future.

McCarthy, meanwhile, has turned his focus to building a disciplined, motivated, and ambitious Harambee Stars squad.

He has praised the hunger of Kenyan players compared to those from his native South Africa, urging them to seize their chance in the domestic league to earn national call-ups.

Benni McCarthy has made several changes as Kenya seek CHAN quarter-final spot, facing Morocco in crucial Group A showdown Sunday.

With CHAN 2024 ongoing and AFCON 2027 qualifiers ahead, the coach’s message is clear — talent will be rewarded, but integrity is non-negotiable. And for Patrick Matasi, the door to McCarthy’s Harambee Stars appears firmly shut.