Okumu in action tonight as Gent court more UEFA Conference League fairy

Kenya’s highly rated central defender Joseph ‘Crouch’ Okumu will be at the heart of Belgian Club Gent’s backline at 9:30 tonight as they embark on a four-team play-off to earn the right of playing in the UEFA Conference League next season.

Gent ended the regular season 5th on the log which is outside the Champions League and Europa groups but must now emerge the best among four teams that comprise St Liege, Westerlo and Cercle Brugge to punch their ticket to UEFA’s third tier club competition.

Gent bowed out of this season’s Conference League at the quarterfinal stage following a 5-2 aggregate loss to English outfit West Ham. Okumu impressed hugely in the two-legged fixture with West Ham.

In tonight’s clash, Gent will face Westerlo, the club that finished 7th in Belgian regular football season. Gent are on a worrying winless run having not tasted victory in their last five fixtures.

After suffering the 4-1 hammering at the hands of West Ham to exit the Conference League Gent lost their next match 2-1 at home to Oostende. The two loses were preceded by three consecutive draws to KV Mechelen, West Ham and Royale Union SG.

Okumu last tasted victory with Gent on Fools Day (1st April) when they hammered Seraing 5-0 in the Belgian Jupiler. They must regain their confidence and mojo back to triumph and ensue on another fairy run in Europe.

The two teams have posted mixed results in their last five encounters with the last meeting ending in a pulsating 3-3 draw. Gent have won twice and lost once to Westerlo with two draws coming in their last five meetings.

Okumu was the first name among six defenders picked for this hugely important fixture for Gent. He has curved a niche on the right side of their two-man central defensive pairing where his readership of the game, interceptions and launch of attacks has proven crucial to his club. 

Manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck has incorporated a number of youth team players following doubts on first team players who suffered nocks in the grueling last three weeks.

"We are going to do everything we can to achieve another success in the play-offs. There are doubts, so I will call up 4 promises. It will be difficult, but we believe in it. The group of fit players is ready." Said the Belgian