Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu on course for first title in Belgium after impressive comeback

Barely one year since joining Belgian outfit KAA Gent, Harambee Stars’ fast rising defender Joseph Okumu has a chance of laying his hands on a first trophy in the country after his side secured their place in the finals of the Belgium Cup on Wednesday night as they overturned a first leg deficit against powerhouse Club Brugge KV.

After losing at home 0-1 in the first leg of the cup semifinals that was played back in February, the Buffalos faced an uphill task as they went to the home of the reigning Belgian champions in search of a response.

In the end, that comeback proved not so hard to get as an inspired Gent scored three goals that swept aside Brugge and consequently booked their place in the finals following the 3-1 aggregate score.

33 year old midfielder Vadis Odidja-Ofoe led in drawing first blood as early as the second minute of the match as his strike restored parity in the tie. That blistering start to the game set the tone of what was to come and just ten minutes before the half time break, Okumu’s side had managed to surge ahead in the pairing as Odidja-Ofoe turned from scorer to provider as he set up Alessio Castro-Montes.

Nine minutes upon resumption of the second half, Gent put one foot in the final after Brugge were reduced to ten men as Laurent Depoitre scored the third to give his side the cushion in the game. In the end, Okumu and the entire backline put in a shift as they kept out Brugge with the Kenyan international picking a clean sheet alongside progression to the finals.

“After three minutes it was 0-1 on the board. The task then became simple. Go full for the win, full gazz as they say. Club Brugge had to come immediately and that created space. The order was executed perfectly. Everyone put a lot of pressure which resulted in ball recovery and so we got the second of the evening. The boys have shown mentality again. After the 0-3 we had almost complete control. We did not give up. For the second time this week I can only say this congratulations to my players!” head coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck delighted after the game.

In the finals, Gent will meet the winner between Eupen and Anderlecht. The two sides play their second leg encounter on Thursday with the first leg playing to a 2-2 draw.