Kenyan Premier League: Sofapaka ace Kasumba eyes golden boot

Sofapaka Players Rogers Arolo,Umar Kasumba and Maurice Odipo during their award ceremony at Eastleigh Secondary School on September 4, 2017. [Oliver Ananda/www.sportpicha.co.ke]

Sofapaka’s Ugandan striker Umaru Kasumba has put his rival, Stephen Waruru of Ulinzi Stars, on notice in the race for the Kenyan Premier League Golden Boot Award.

In five matches, the talismanic Ugandan import has netted six goals, five shy of Waruru’s plunder.

Kasumba said displacing Waruru from top of the chart is a challenge he is relishing.

“Of course I have the ability of shaking the net and I think I have proved it since I landed in Kenya,” said Kasumba, whom Sofapaka captured from Sports Club Villa (Uganda).

“When I came to Sofapaka, Waruru had 11 goals to his name and hasn’t added to his tally up to now. As for me, I have been scoring and it will just be a matter of time before I catch up with him and even overtake him,” Kasumba said yesterday during Sofapaka’s award ceremony in which he was honoured as the club’s top scorer and the best player so far.

He shared the latter accolade with compatriot Rodgers Aloro.

Age-defying midfielder Hillary Echesa, who has lost his brother, was honoured in absentia as the runner-up for the best player while the whole team bagged the Fair Play Award.

The team’s coach, Sam Ssimbwa, said the newly introduced awards will go a long way in motivating the players to perform better in the team’s quest to reclaim the title they last won in 2009.

“We are in contention for the title and the awards are the best thing to have happened at the club,” said Ssimbwa. [Rodgers Eshitemi]