'My words were twisted' - Harambee Stars forward Masoud Juma clears the air over Gor Mahia & AFC Leopards 'small teams' jibe

'My words were twisted' - Harambee Stars forward Masoud Juma clears the air over Gor Mahia & AFC Leopards 'small teams' jibe

Mark Kinyanjui 08:00 - 01.12.2024

Harambee Stars forward Masoud Juma has clarified the situation over comments he made about AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia being 'small teams' that landed him in trouble back in 2017.

Harambee Stars striker Masoud Juma has clarified remarks he allegedly made seven years ago, which caused uproar among fans of Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards. The controversy stemmed from statements Juma made in 2017 while playing for Kariobangi Sharks, where he was in scintillating form, netting 23 goals in all competitions.

At the time, Juma reportedly dismissed the possibility of joining the two Kenyan football giants, insisting he would only leave Sharks for a "big" club. The comments sparked backlash, with fans accusing him of disrespecting their teams.

Now, in a candid interview with Buzz Sports, the 27-year-old revealed that his words were misinterpreted.

Juma recounted the interview that sparked the controversy:

"The journalists asked me, ‘Now that you are the top scorer, do you think you will play for Gor Mahia or AFC Leopards?’ I said, ‘I won the award playing for Kariobangi Sharks. Why do you think I want to play for Gor Mahia or AFC Leopards? I want to go out of the country.’”

The striker claims the media sensationalized his response, leading to headlines suggesting he labeled Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards as "small" teams.

"In the morning, I woke up only to find headlines stating that I had claimed both were small teams. They attacked me," he said.

Juma addressed the animosity he faced following the incident, stating that while he does not have a problem with fans, their perception of him does not define his career.

"For me, I do not have a problem with fans, but my words were twisted. They did not give me time to explain myself. They killed me. But my relationship with fans does not matter. I am not anyone’s role model. I am playing football for survival," he emphasised.

The striker, who recently signed with Iranian club Esteghlal after stints in the Middle East and North Africa, maintained that criticism will not derail his focus.

"They attack me all the time, whether at club or international level, but you should not put concern on what other people are saying, you will not make it," he added.

Despite the drama, Juma remains unfazed: “They attacked me, I attacked them back, but AFC Leopards does exist, Masoud does exist, and I am doing better.”

Juma’s stellar performances for Kariobangi Sharks in 2017 earned him a move to South Africa’s Cape Town City. Since then, he has played for several clubs in the Middle East and North Africa, including Dibba El Fujairah (UAE), Al Nasr (Libya), JS Kabylie (Algeria), and Al-Jabalain (Saudi Arabia), among others.

Now with Esteghlal, Juma is focused on continuing his football journey, a testament to his resilience amid criticism and controversy.

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