Mara Sugar FC goalkeeper Evans Omondi Ouma avers that he would still be a part-time fisherman at Lake Turkana or a semi-skilled mason had he not taken a leap of faith and given football a second chance during the 2024 Mozzart Bet Cup.Ouma had endured enough frustration, triggered by the lack of meaningful financial returns from featuring in the lower tiers, forcing him to quit football to try his luck in other ventures.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsHarambee Stars loses CHAN warm-up friendly against combined sideFishing in Lake Turkana and quickly tapping masonry skills from seasoned hands, at construction sites in Busia, handed him avenues to eke out a living away from the pitch, which he considered a rich source of disappointment.However, he admits he was never at peace and felt the guilt of unfinished business whenever the dream of playing for the national team, Harambee Stars, would cross his mind.##NAJAVA_MECA_9019126##Witnessing his boyhood club win local tournaments in his absence would occasionally see him dust off his boots and gloves. He had never fully given up on the game, which is considered one of the addictive sports.Realising his potential in between the sticks and the urge to fulfil his football dream were at risk of going up in smoke, Ouma returned to football in 2024, a decision that has since brought forth a breakthrough.The shot-stopper joined Bungoma Stars in 2024 and would, along with his teammates, make history by eliminating two Premier League clubs, Bandari FC and FC Talanta, from the Cup despite being a third-tier outfit.Omulama’s big heart turns Kshs 100, 000 Mozzart Bet cheque into sporting boost for Amazulu FCTheir fairytale run in the Cup was deemed good enough for him and other outstanding players to secure moves to top clubs in the country, with Sofapaka going for his signature before the start of the 2024-25 campaign.Ouma, moved to Mara Sugar in February and would help the Enoosaen-based club finish fourth in the Cup and retain their top-flight status.The shot-stopper, who is one of the most sought-after in the off-season transfer window, acknowledges that he would not be a popular man, and on demand, had two clubs not introduced and taught him basic goalkeeping skills.Ouma played for the Mumias-based Harambee United and Busia’s Isonge United before advancing to more structured club football and tournaments.The role the two grassroots clubs played in laying the foundation is one that the stopper deeply appreciates and highly values.Rising Stars captain set to join LaLiga sideLast week, Ouma visited the two clubs and donated sporting equipment worth Ksh100,000.He redeemed his Mozzart Bet Cup Humanitarian Cheque and bought full uniforms, two goal post nets, a pump, eight footballs, two sets of corner flags, four pairs of goalkeeper’s gloves, 15 cones, 30 bibs, and stretcher bands.“If these two clubs had not taught me football when I was young, I would probably be just an ordinary fisherman or mason. ##NAJAVA_MECA_9019137##I would probably be wasting away in the village. However, the skills I tapped from coaches enabled me to rediscover purpose. I return to all where it began a proud man, thanks to Mozzart Bet and the bold step which I took last year,” said Ouma.Why Isaac Omweri donated his Ksh100,000 Mozzart Bet Cup award to two teamsThe custodian believes that the decision by Bungoma Stars to enrol in last year’s tournament came with luck.“I would be playing in the lower tiers had Bungoma not decided to feature in the Mozzart Bet Cup. Winning against Bandari and FC Talanta earned me a move to Sofapaka, and as they say, the rest is history. I thank Mozzart Bet for their efforts in developing football and coming up with the Humanitarian Cheque,” he added.Ghanaian goalkeeper reveals why he donated Mozzart Bet Cup Humanitarian Cheque to MYSAOuma won the cheque following his penalty-saving heroics in the quarterfinals of the past campaign against Kenya Police FC.Mara beat Police 9-8 in post-match penalties after the two teams laboured to a 1-1 draw in regular time.
