Former players led by FKF vice chairperson McDonald Mariga hold Ezekiel Otuoma’s jersey on Sunday during a football fund raising tournament. Photo: Courtesy
Over 30 football teams and football stakeholders fund raised over 250,000 Ksh for the late Kenya Premier League ( KPL) striker Ezekiel Otuoma’s burial ceremony that has now been scheduled for 11th January in Siaya County, Gem, Ramula.
Speaking on Sunday at Absa Sports Club in Nairobi, Otuoma’s first coach Eric Bob Otieno who organized the football tournament to raise the funds thanked the Kenyan football fraternity for standing with their own.
“I first met him as a five year old in Mbotela estate where I started coaching him and others at our club Kamaliza, so he is a young man that I considered a son, his family is well known to us,” said Otieno.
The event also attracted the newly elected Football Kenya Federation ( FKF ) vice president McDonald Mariga and his brother Victor Wanyama who both played for Friends of Mariga FC in the six – aside tournament.
“He was just 31 years old , but unfortunately a rare disease had to cut short his life. We are all here as the Kenyan Football family to condole with his wife Rachael, family and friends,” said Mariga adding that the spirit shown by footballers on Sunday is encouraging for the development of the game in Kenya.
Also present was four times KPL winning coach Robert Matano who coached the late goal poacher at Ulinzi Stars during the 2014/2015 season and later reunited with him at Afc leopards for the 2017/2018 Kenya’s topflight football league season praising the late as a disciplined player who was committed in his shirt career.
Sports Journalists also we’re not left behind and participated in the event , amassing over 10,000 Ksh in contributions for the football fallen hero.
Otuoma passed away on 21st December last year after a long battle with Motor Neurone Syndrome ( MDS ) , a rare condition that affects the brain and nerves resulting to the weakening of body muscles hence paralysis.
Also known as Rooney, nicknamed after former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney, the speedy striker left his boyhood club Mbotela Kamaliza fc for greener pastures featuring for topflight clubs such as Muhoroni Youth FC, Western Stima, FC Talanta ,Ulinzi Stars and Afc leopards. There will be a requiem mass for him on January 9th before arrangements to transport his body to his parents home in Siaya County for the burial ceremony.
