Harambee Stars and French Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims defender Joseph Okumu has gone back to his roots and made a donation of a 14-seater bus to his childhood club Chemelil Youth Football Club.
Okumu gifted the team the van to aid their transport in the FKF Kisumu County League
Okumu joined Chemelil Sugar, which is the senior team to Chemilil youth back in 2016 soon after his studies at Kakamega High School.
Okumu, currently playing for Ligue 1 outfit Stade de Reims, had the van delivered during a prayer session at the Chemelil Sugar Sports Complex Stadium.
The handover ceremony was marked by the presence of Okumu’s father, Hillary Ouma, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chemelil Youth FC.
“This van donation is an appreciation for the club where his (Okumu) football journey commenced. Known fondly as ‘Guza Guza’ among Chemelil Sugar football fraternity fans,” Ouma said in his message to the team.
The former Chemelil Sugar Football Club defender, now disbanded, voiced Okumu’s gratitude, for his football roots can be traced back to Chemelil Youth FC.
The van will facilitate players’ transportation for their Kisumu County league matches. The generous act is Okumu’s way of giving back to the community, which played a crucial role in shaping his football career.
The ceremony, attended by numerous former Chemelil Sugar FC players, marked the team’s involvement in the just-ended Youth Connekt Africa Summit 2023, held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Okumu became one of the few Kenyans to play his football in one of Europe’s top 5 leagues when he joined Stade de Reims on a five-year deal on July 22, 2023.
He joined Gent in 2021 from Swedish side IF Elfsborg, where he played 92 games and scored only four goals.
His football journey has seen him traverse various continents, from playing for Free State Stars in South Africa to the United States with AFC Ann Arbor, Real Monarchs and now with Reims.
