Okumu clocks top speed in Sweden

Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu has enjoyed a phenomenal start to life at his new Swedish club IF Elfsborg.

Since joining the team from Real Monarchs in the United States of America back in August 2019, the former Chemelil Sugar FC player managed to lead Elfsborg to a second place finish and a Europa League playoff spot. In his maiden full season, the defender was awarded the club’s breakthrough player for the 2020 season after impressing in twenty four appearances out of the thirty games played.

A new stat has now established that in the entire 2020 Swedish season, Okumu clocked the highest speed in the Allsvenskan league, the defender recording a speed of 34.58km/hr on his way to being named the fastest player.

After shaking off a slight injury sustained, Okumu recovered in time to earn a starting berth for his side’s second game of the season, leading them to a 1-3 win over Varbergs for their first points of the season, something that delighted the lanky defender.

“First 3 points of the season feels good,” he posted.

Okumu’s outstanding performances have not gone unnoticed. The lanky defender has been linked with a move to Scottish Champions Rangers FC according to various media outlets in Sweden and Scotland. Okumu’s teammate Johan Larsson was full of praise as he even likened the Kakamega High school alumni to Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk.

“It is difficult to compare but he has similar qualities to van Dijk, and we try to use his qualities as far as possible. He does it very well. So it is not a stupid parable, but it is also a tough parable to live up to,” he said.

Currently, in the early stages of the 2021 season, Okumu and his Elfsborg side sit in eighth place on the log on three points. They next take on Mjallby in their next league fixture this coming Monday.