'Football is only played by poor people' - Harambee Stars' forward Masud Juma
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 26.11.24. | 19:04
The former Bandari FC forward has explained why football is only played by the poor
Harambee Stars forward Masud Juma has come out to allege that football is only played by poor people due to what it entails to play it.
Masud is one of the senior players in the Kenya national team but has been out since late January due to an injury that led to him missing Harambee Stars' failed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign.
In an interview with Buzz Sports, the former Shabana FC striker explained why he averred that football is played by the less privileged attributing it to the sacrifices needed to play the game.
“Football is only played by poor people. Rich people cannot because it needs a lot of sacrifices and for people already with something, it becomes very difficult.
Football takes your life; train twice a day, no drugs, no nothing. Just food and sleep,” he stated.
The former Kariobangi Sharks forward however failed to disclose whether his statement only applied to the local scene or also on the international front.
The 28-year-old said that it is not enough to have the talent, it calls for one to push themselves beyond the limits.
“In everything, you have to sacrifice and work hard. You will be seen today, given a platform but if you are not sacrificing and pushing yourself, no one will notice.
Talent is not an ordinary job where you go and sit at the office. You have to prove yourself when given a platform,” he noted.
The 2017 FKF Premier League Golden Boot winner was explaining the difficulties that he has undergone, trying to help players from his hometown of Isiolo to find top-tier clubs.
“I personally take a lot of boys from Isiolo to teams but you know it is trials. You can't just tell a coach this player is good and they take them before they can be on trial first,” he added.
The former Cape Town City striker also revealed the struggles that he underwent while making a name for himself in the football scene.
“In my time, I did not get anyone to bring me to a team. At that time in Isiolo, no one knew a player from the hood who played at the top level. There were even no stadiums there, just dusty playgrounds,” he concluded.
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