Nairobi News

By CELLESTINE OLILO

Kenyan international midfielder Anthony ‘Vierra’ Akumu has joined Zambian league champions Zesco United after signing a two-year contract.

Akumu still had six months remaining on his contract with Al Khartoum of Sudan, but Zesco United bought out the remainder of his contract.

Speaking from Ndola International Airport where he was awaiting his flight back home, Akumu said that he was excited by the deal and that he is looking forward to a good year with his new club.

“This is a fresh challenge and I am looking forward to it. My friend David ‘Calabar’ Owino has told me good things about the club and am not worried about coping with the club management,” Akumu said.

“The management has spoken with me and they have emphasized the fact that they need to perform well in the CAF Champions League next year. That is a tough challenge but I hope to settle down and perform well. I thank everybody at Al Khartoum, especially the fans and coach Kwesi Appiah who gave me the opportunity to grow to this level,” he added.

SOLID PLAYER

Akumu left the country early on Monday morning for Ndola, and was joined by his agent George Bwana on Wednesday morning.

Bwana’s agency, Airtime Communications, brokered the deal, and Akumu is their fourth client after Allan Wanga (Azam), David Owino (Zesco) and Jacob Keli (Nkana FC).

The former Gor Mahia player joined Al Khartoum two years and has grown to be a solid defensive midfielder for the team. Akumu featured prominently for the club in this year’s Cecafa Club Championship.

Akumu has also cemented his place within the senior national team, and he has earned several call ups to Bobby Williamson’s squad this year.

The former Gor Mahia midfielder becomes the third player to move to the Zambian premier league following in the footsteps of Owino and Keli.