This Is Why Kariobangi Sharks Prodigal Son's Return Could Revive Masud Juma

NAIROBI, Kenya- So, what is next for Masud (Masoud) Juma Choka, the talented forward who through no fault of his own, found himself at the centre of the Harambee Stars Egypt 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) selection storm?

After failing to progress from Group C of the biannual continental football showpiece despite earning a fighting chance when they finished third behind winners Algeria (nine) and Senegal (six) with three points from their three games, the postmortem of Stars performance in Egypt started in earnest on Wednesday.

An inferior goal difference of -4 ultimately cost Stars a ticket to the last 16, confirmed on Tuesday night when minnows Benin hang on for a 0-0 draw against holders Cameroon to grab one of the four slots reserved for the best-placed third finishers from across all Egypt 2019 groups.

Critics have zeroed in on the selection of Juma as one of the three forwards in the team, with Frenchman Migne not helping his cause when he declined to give him a run out despite the fact that Kenya was chasing all the games they played in, including their come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Tanzania who finished bottom and booked an early flight to Dar-es-Salaam after losing all their fixtures.

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Billed as the next Dennis Oliech by respected coach and television pundit, Gilbert Selebwa, the rapid fall of glory for Juma, the man who ignited the 2017 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) when he won the Golden Boot while playing for Kariobangi Sharks FC- memorably scoring four goals in one match- is almost as spectacular as his rise from the semi arid Isiolo where there is no established football tradition to national prominence. 

Unfortunately for the player who has one of the most inspiring stories in local football, Juma has become a totem symbol for those keen on expanding the theory of biased or forced selections in the national team due to his roots with Sharks or perceived closeness to the powers that be at the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

This is because against all conventional wisdom, he nailed a coveted place in the final AFCON squad despite a prolonged dry spell in front of goal since departing Sharks at the end of his season of wonder for South Africa Premier Soccer League side, Cape Town City FC where he was credited with one goal in four appearances.

Sharks connections

Another underwhelming stint at Emitrati pro football club Dibba Al-Fujairah Club followed in 2018 where the forward netted four times in 10 appearances according to records before joining Libyan side Al-Nasr Benghazi this year where he is yet to be credited with an appearance.

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Having not scored for 18 months, the inclusion of Juma in the final Stars squad for the AFCON named on June 11, 2019 by Migne raised more questions than answers, particularly after the Frenchman declined to give the top 2018/19 SPL scorers, Enosh Ochieng' of Ulinzi Stars FC (20) and seasoned Allan Wanga (18) a chance.

Wanga was dropped from the team before a preliminary squad of 27 travelled to France for a 19-day AFCON preparation while Migne's almost stubborn refusal to call-up red hot Zesco United FC striker, Jesse Jackson Were who recently led his side to the domestic cup success touched a raw nerve among Stars supporters.

Speaking to the FKF website after he was included in the initial squad of 30 in early June, Juma admitted much of the criticism levelled against him stems from his Sharks connections, not his abilities as a footballer.

“In 2016 at Sony Sugar, when I was called to the national team, everyone supported me. When I was called to the U23 team while I was at Bandari, everyone also supported me.

"The criticism only started when I was called up while playing for Kariobangi Sharks, which is associated with the FKF President. So I think they don’t hate me,” he told the site.

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“I was hoping that I would do well in Libya but it is unfortunate that the political situation there couldn’t allow me to settle. So right now I am fully focused on working hard for a place in the final AFCON team and hopefully, things will work out well,” he explained on his barren run at the Libyan outfit.

However, after cooling his heels in the bench, it is time for the talented footballer to seek a reboot to avoid stalling a career that has much promise since Juma is not damaged goods yet.

A return to Sharks, the team he fired from the second division National Super League to finishing third in the SPL behind powerhouses Gor Mahia FC and Tusker FC on their top flight debut is perhaps what the maligned striker needs to silence his detractors.

At 23, Juma can chose the path chosen by some of his peers whose moves abroad or to bigger clubs failed to ignite, including Patillah Omotto, a man he is too familiar with.

Speaking to SportPesa News late last month, his former teammate and gifted midfielder explained he returned to Sharks to reignite his fortunes after moves to SPL titans AFC Leopards SC and Bandari FC stagnated due to a lack of confidence and injury.

Familiar surroundings

The pair even played together in Stars much-maligned 1-2 loss away to Sierra Leone in June 2017 having been given starting 11 roles under former head coach, Stanley Okumbi when Juma's woes with the national side perhaps started.

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In the ninth minute of that game, the then Sharks teammates combined to set the striker bearing on goal but Juma skewed his effort wide with only the keeper to beat and following the defeat against the side that was eventually expelled from the AFCON, the reaction on social media was harsh.

“It affects you. At first when people start speaking negatively about you, it is unsettling and you need someone to stand by you, Nick (Mwendwa, FKF President) was there to help me through it. Sometimes, I would look at what critics were saying and seek whether there is some truth in it.

“I took the positives from it and dumped the negatives,” Omoto recounted.

Having made his Prodigal Son's return to Sharks, Omotto who is in line to play English Premier League side Everton FC on Sunday has slowly rediscovered his touch and Juma can emulate his example to rejuvenate his having seen a chance to impress at the AFCON denied by non-selection even from the bench.

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In familiar surroundings besides playing under a coach and teammates who believe in him, the man from Isiolo can start firing on all cylinders again and in future, call ups to the national team will not be met with derision.

“He is a young lad who is hungry to play. I think he deserves more credit than he is getting. Unfortunately he doesn’t get the kind of credit he deserves. That is the sad bit.

“There is no difference between training and match days for Juma. He gives his all. That is exactly what we want from our players.

"As he continues to develop, I’m certain we will have an even more lethal forward,” Sharks head coach, William Muluya, said of the player in 2017 when critics first rounded on him for that miss against Sierra Leone as the striker recovered to claim the SPL Golden Boot.

Harambee Stars striker Masud Juma (right) takes on Dennis Odhiambo in training for the Egypt 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. PHOTO/FKF