Harambee Stars central defender Joseph Okumu played full minutes Sunday for Belgian side KAA Gent as they dropped their eighth time this season in a 3-2 loss to rivals KRC Genk.Having been deployed as one of the two central defenders in a back four alongside Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui in last weekend’s 3-2 loss to Cercle Brugge, Okumu was reverted back into the right side of a back three on Sunday.Hugo Cuypers fed midfielder Hyunseok Hong for Gent’s first goal in the ninth minute before Ghanaian international Joseph Paintsil equalized in the 23rd minute – hitting double figure goals in the league.##NAJAVA_MECA_6996841##With the game still deadlocked at 1-1 after the halftime break, Genk made a couple of changes bringing on Tolu Arokodare for Tanzanian international Mbwana Samatta and Yira Sor for Bilal El Khannouss in the sixty fifth minute.The two would later on work a charm for the table-toppers, as both players were on the scoresheet in the sixty seventh and eighty sixth minute, giving Genk a 3-1 lead.Another substitute- this time for KAA Gent – Laurent Depoitre, formerly of Huddersfield Town, scored for Gent in the eighty eighth minute to bring the scores to 3-2.FT 2-3 | Gestreden samen met onze twaalfde man #gntgnk #jpl #ft pic.twitter.com/4x9qVlttMR— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) February 5, 2023 KRC Genk however held on to see out the victory – their third in four games – to maintain their seven point lead on top of the Belgian Pro League.KAA Gent, with 11 wins in 24 games played so far this season, are fifth on 38 points, just a win behind the reigning league champions Club Brugge in the final championship round places.NCPA T20 League: Kanbis gunning for the title after flying startSunday’s game was Okumu’s 21st start this season. He is however yet to break his duck for goals in the league.
Elsewhere in neighbouring Rwanda, Paul Were was not named in the matchday squad that played against Kiyovu Sports in a barren draw on Sunday afternoon.