Divock Origi has had a remarkable career in Europe after a pivotal lifeline decision over his future career in football.Although the Reds sensational young forward was born in Belgium, his parents were all Kenyan citizens who moved to Belgium prior to his birthday at Ostend.
His football career was promising from his first touch drawing interests from Amrouch, the then Harambee stars coach and Wilmot Belgium head coach, who were all interested in the young boy.
Before the 2012 world cup campaign, Origi found himself on the fence over his international football future career. He was to either choose between Kenya and Belgium. Choosing Belgium meant that he was going to ditch his own country.
As fete will have it, he choose Belgium and went ahead on to represent it in the World Cup.
This has been a center of criticism from Kenyan soccer fans disguising him as a traitor of his own country. Previous interviews from the Kenyan journalists have provided an opportunity for Origi to respond to such booing fans and football analysts- amusingly, most of these fans booing him are Supporters of Man-U, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Origi says that he choose Belgium because they have natured him since his tender age in football and given him all the materials and facilities he required to perfect his football career.
“I also wanted to play on international platform something that prompted me to make a tough decision,” he says stating that he did something that anyone who is following his career would have done.
Another reason, as he says is that his coach Wilmot persuaded him to join his squad on their way to Brazil since his back-up Christian Benteke, Liverpool starlet who was then in Aston Villa, had encountered a serious injury which had ruled him out of the whole competition. Origi says he couldn’t withstand the pleas from Wilmot despite persuasions Amrouch.
This has made him to respect Kenyans in any way possible on international platforms, he gave Kenyan journalists a firsthand priority at the world cup after coming out as the MOTM with a stunning winning score. In fact they contacted the interview in Swahili.
He has also invited Kenyan journalists and fans at his house in Merseyside, Liverpool city for interviews. He says this keeps him updated with the latest news about his Kenyan people.
Recently Origi has been pivotal over Benteke as a Klopp’s choice and a second choice after Daniel Sturridge as LFC seek to clinch top four. Klopp has described as a finest young talent in football and is destined for a bright future over is career.
In 2016 campaign He has been on a score sheet six times and recorded a first hat-trick against Southampton in a match Victor Wanyama featured.
By Simon Ingari
