Origi bags a hat-trick as Lille climb to eighth spot
Belgian Divock Origi was on scintillating form at the weekend bagging a hat-trick to help his club Lille sink Rennes 3-0 in a French Ligue 1 match on Sunday at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Origi, whose parents are Kenyan, put Lille in front in the 38th minute from close range after making the most of a poor clearance from defender Fallou Diagne and doubled his tally from the spot in the 63rd then latched on to Nolan Roux’s cross at the back post 10 minutes later to complete his hat trick.
The 19- year old’s treble act which helped to secure a third consecutive win for Lille, could be a honour to his late grandmother, who passed on last week.
He is however unlikely to be available for the burial this weekend due to work commitments.
The weekend win saw them climb to position eight on the 20-team log with 41 points from 29 matches.
They are 17 points adrift of leaders Lyon as they fight to nail a Uefa Champion League spot next term.
His uncle, Austin Oduor, a former Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars great Austin Oduor was elated with his weekend heroics.
He said: “A striker is charged with scoring and when he experiences a long period of goal drought, it becomes a nightmare but its normal in the career of a player. He may have not been scoring but making assists and I think it (the goals) will give him the same courage to face future matches in the same manner he did on Sunday.”
Regarding his impending move to Liverpool at the end of May, he said: “Being one who has played in a top league in Europe, he has the grounds to play in any team if given cooperation.”
The youngster, who is son to former Kenya international striker Mike Okoth, is the second player of Kenyan decent after Dennis Oliech to play in the top tier French league.
He starred in the summer World Cup Finals in Brazil last year before sealing a Sh 1.2 billion deal that will see him swap Stade Pierre-Mauroy for Anfield at the end of the current term.
He has been playing at Lille on loan.