Retired star Mike Okoth speaks about his son Divock’s love for Kenya
Despite choosing Belgian nationality over Kenyan citizenship, Liverpool star Divock Origi is deeply passionate about about everything Kenyan.
According to the player’s father, Mike Okoth, the youngster is planning to make several visits to the country in the near future.
“He (Divock ) was born in Belgium but raised the Kenyan way. He speaks fluent Kiswahili and enjoys Kenyan food very much. In the past he has frequently visited Kenya and even knows his way around. He hasn’t got much time of late but he could be coming when the current English Premier League season ends,” Okoth, 48, told Nairobi News in an exclusive interview on Wednesday afternoon.
Origi has scored thrice in 16 appearances since joining Liverpool two years ago.
In 2014, he was part of the Beligian national team that played in the Fifa World Cup in Brazil. At about that time, he rebuffed advances from Kenya’s technical bench led by then head coach, Adel Amrouche, to don the Harambee Stars jersey.
Okoth however stopped short of confirming if and who his 20 year old son is currently dating.
KENYA’S POOR RUN
The former Kenyan international also took time to express his disappointment with Harambee Stars current poor run.
“On all accounts, Guinea Bissau is an inferior team compared to Kenya. I can’t just understand how we can fail to score a goal against them over 180 minutes. I was at the stadium on Sunday and we were technically poor. How do you start with one striker when you are chasing the match and need a crucial win?” he posed.
Considered amongst the best talent that Kenya has ever produced, Okoth enjoyed an illustrious career, initially as a goalkeeper before becoming a striker.
He turned out for Shabana and Kenya Breweries in the top flight league, before joining the paid ranks in Europe where he enjoyed a successful professional career spanning more than a decade.
During that period, Okoth played for KV Oostende, KRC Harelbeke, Racing Genk, Molenbeek, Heusden-Dolder and Tongeren.
Okoth, who is a brother to former Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars captain Austin Oduor, is currently an international player agent based in Europe.
