Harambee Stars centre back Joseph Okumu had an afternoon to forget after his Stade de Reims suffered a 3-0 loss at the hands of Japanese club Shimizu S-Pulse in a pre-season friendly staged at the IAI Stadium, Nihondaira, Japan on Saturday.Okumu lasted on the pitch for 60 minutes in what was Reims’ second game in the Japan tour that concludes next week. Reims have been camping in Japan in the last one week as part of their preparations for the new French Ligue 1 season. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8235035##Enjoying the support from the home crowd, Shimizu broke the deadlock in the 27th minute through Lucas Braga who sealed his brace in the dying minutes of the first half. Shimizu scored their third goal in the 93rd minute of the contest that saw Reims make near wholesome changes in the 60th minute in a bid to hand all players in the tour game time. Kenyan forward leaves Leicester City on loan to Wigan AthleticReims kicked off the tour with a 1-1 draw against Jubilo Iwata 1-1 three days ago, at Yamaha Stadium, with Ivorian winger Oumar Diakite netting the equaliser for the visitors. Okumu featured in the game against Jubilo and is expected to retain his place in the team in the final game of the tour against Machida Zelvia.The decision to include Okumu in the Japan tour came on the back of strong transfer links to Italian giants AS Roma.Anthony Akumu finds a new home in IranThe former KAA Gent defender had been linked to Roma but his handlers have been mum on whether the two clubs are in negotiations considering that the player has a lengthy contract in France. Okumu moved to Reims in July last year, signing a five-year long deal with the club after parting ways with Gent. He had served Gent for two seasons.
