Harambee Stars midfielder Johanna Omolo has joined Turkish club Buyuksehir Belediye Erzurumspor from Belgian team Cercle Brugge, the club confirmed on Wednesday 13 January.
31-year-old Johanna Omolo will team up with former West Ham United defender and Moroccan international Manuel da Costa, who also signed for the club yesterday.
The Cameroonian internationals Adolphe Teikeu and Petrus Boumal also play for Erzurumspor, who after 18 games are in last place in the Turkish Super League with 13 points.
Omollo could play for Erzurumspor in the Turkish Cup against Alanyaspor on Thursday, January 13th (today). The game is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. East African Time (EAT).
He signed a deal with Cercle Brugge last August, at a time when his foundation was helping to fight the pandemic in his home country.
Omolo made his Harambee Stars debut in 2011.
Johanna Omolo from Harambee Stars and Hakim Sama (left) from Sparrow at Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, during the second qualifying group for the African Nations Cup 2021 G. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
He has only one goal for Kenya scored – in a 1-1 draw against Togo in qualifying for the African Nations Cup in 2021 before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
He has played for numerous clubs in Kenya, Belgium and Luxembourg, including Lommel United, Beerschot, Fola Esch, renowned Vise and Coast Stars.
Omolo won the Fifpro Merit Award for his community work in Dandora, Nairobi, through his foundation – the Johana Omollo Foundation.
Last June, the Johanna Omolo Foundation donated groceries to families in Dandora.
Johana Omollo Foundation chairman Godfrey Okoti (left) donates groceries to elderly Grace Wanjiru at Dandora Youth Group on Friday March 27, 2020. [Jonah Onyango, Standard [
Speaking to Standard Sports, Foundation Chairman Godfrey Okoti urged other capable and capable Kenyans to help the hardest hit families, especially in the slums and rural areas.
He said they were giving out cooking oil, rice, ugali flour, sugar, hand washing, soaps and more to feed families during these difficult times.
« Omolo grew up in Dandora and felt it was appropriate to give back to the community, especially during this coronavirus pandemic that has left a huge impact on the lives of Kenyans. »
« We also call on those in privileged positions to support and help the most severely affected families so that we can fight this pandemic as a Kenya, » said Okoti.
The Johanna Omolo Foundation also runs a menstrual health management program in Dandora, with over 300 girls monthly donating sanitary towels to various schools in the area, including Dandora Girls, Tom Mboya Primary, Good Shepherd and Starlight Senior.
The residents of Dandora stand in line at the Johanna Omolo Foundation office to donate food during the 4th round aid program. The exercise benefited 300 families. May 23, 2020. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
In addition, they are promoting talent in Dandora through an incubation football academy for boys and girls, which was started in 2017 with the vision of giving young players the opportunity to play football to learn and enjoy.
They also train children in need to provide opportunities for children in Dandora, believing that every child should have the opportunity to at least attend primary school.
Okoti said they will continue to provide full food aid throughout the pandemic.
The foundation now joins the Victor Wanyama Foundation, which distributed disinfectants to residents of the slums of Mathare, Nairobi County, to help fight the pandemic.
Ref: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke
