Kenyan international Joseph Okumu had a debut to forget with his KAA Gent side in the European UEFA Europa Conference League as he scored an own goal in the team’s 2-0 loss to Norway’s Valeranga in the second leg match played at Intility Arena on Thursday night.Named in the starting eleven of the matchday squad tasked with getting the job done, Okumu featured for the full length of the game.Despite the unfortunate own goal and resultant defeat, Okumu was fortunate that the howler did not have any repercussions to his side as they progressed to the final round of the qualifiers courtesy of a 4-2 aggregate score, the first leg 4-0 thumping victory getting the job done in the end.FT 2-0⎢We verliezen de partij in de Intility Arena maar stoten door naar de volgende ronde 🔵⚪ #valgnt pic.twitter.com/jM4cdUsHTG— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) July 29, 2021 Just four days after making his first appearance with the Belgian outfit in the league, Okumu was entrusted with a first start in the European competition after sitting on the bench in the first leg.In the game, the former IF Elfsborg defender didn’t have the ideal start to life as just eleven minutes in, the ball came came off him and into the net to give the hosts the early lead in the match.1-0 (11′) | Een poging van Sahraoui belandt via Okumu voorbij Roef: 1-0 #valgnt #UECL— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) July 29, 2021 Defender Ivan Narsberg added a second for Valeranga with eight minutes left on the clock but the first leg deficit just proved too steep tosurmount, ,Gent progressing 4-2 on aggregate.In making his first appearance in the third tier European competition, Okumu became the second Kenyan international to play in the competition after former Gor Mahia midfielder Amos Nondi who got eliminated with his Dila Gori side after suffering a 6-3 aggregate defeat at the hands of Slovakia’s Zilina.Gent will face Latvia’s FK Rigas Futbola Skola (RFS) in the final round of the qualifiers.
