Mike Okoth opens up on Origi's big move to Liverpool

Mike Okoth’s words are solemn. They prick, they tell a tale of a resilient parent who gave everything he had to his beloved country, putting his body on the line in matches, trooping to camp to honour international fixtures but got nothing in reward.

At the end of the day, he looked elsewhere.

Changing citizenship was the only viable option and so he went for a Belgian passport, becoming a Kenyan-Belgian just for his son Divock Origi and to a greater extent his two daughters Deneen (24) and Natasha (17) to realise their full potential.

“I am proud as a father to see my son play in a top league. I wanted to achieve this dream but I couldn’t but I am glad that through God this has been possible. I will now pray that all goes well until he makes his debut with the Reds,” said Okoth after his 19-year-old son Divock Origi sealed a Sh1.5 billion move to Liverpool.

EYE-CATCHING PERFORMANCES

Opening up to the Nation in an interview from his home in Belgium, a day after his son sealed the deal to the Merseyside, Okoth was overwhelmed and at the same time upbeat of what the future holds for his talented second born.

The historic move will make Origi the first player of Kenyan descent to play for a major English Premier League side, assuming that no Kenyan breaks the ceiling between now and next season.

His move to the Merseyside had however long been seen coming and it was just a matter of when.

Eye-catching performances at the World Cup finals catapulted him to hero’s status in Belgium, making him the object of great admiration across Europe, with various clubs inquiring about his signature. But it was the Reds who pulled all strings to beat off competition.

“Though it may not be the right time to grant an interview, we are all very pleased to see him reach a deal with the club (Liverpool).

“We made the decision based on the club‘s profile. Liverpool have young players and they take keen interest in developing talent. They have young talents like Sterling (Raheem) and I believe it will give Divock the chance to develop once he eventually joins them,” said Okoth.

Throughout the season, the 19-year-old striker whose style of play has been compared to Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert — earning the nick name ‘Baby Kluivert’ — has grabbed acres of space in print and online media across the globe with the Brendan Rodgers-coached side pushing for a deal which eventually materialised late on Tuesday evening.

He put pen to paper on a five-year deal and his father, who played a key role in the choice, maintains it is the right decision.

“The manager (Brendan Rodgers) believes in him. He has monitored his (Divock’s) progress since he was 15 and arriving at the decision was no brainer.

We had a lengthy talk with the club and the coach impressed us that it was the right place to be,” he said.

Though the finer details of the deal were not made public, it goes without saying that it heralds a better economic future for Origi bearing in mind the handsome weekly pay players get in the English Premier League. For the youngster, it is a case of a son with a burning passion fulfilling a dream that a loving father never realised.

Origi told Liverpool website on Tuesday after he inked the deal: “I always watched Liverpool on TV when I was small and if you see players like Gerrard (Steven) and Sturridge (Daniel), it’s exciting to know that you’re going to be playing with them.

“I am very proud to sign for the club. I’ll give everything for the club, like I did when I was small and did for Lille. I’m hoping we can achieve great things together.”

GROWING REPUTATION

The versatile striker will return to Lille with the aim of getting more playing time as he builds on his growing reputation. The Great Danes finished third in the French League last term and will have to win their playoffs if they are to be guaranteed a berth in the prestigious Uefa Champions League where Okoth himself played in the 1999-2000 season.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers also took time to shower the youngster with praise, tipping him to make it big in football.

“For me, he can be one of the most exciting talents in world football. I genuinely believe that. He’s super-fast, has a wonderful touch, he’s a good size and is aggressive. This kid coming into the right environment, can genuinely be world class,” he said.

Former Harambee Stars coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee congratulated the youngster for the milestone move. “For Origi, Liverpool is the right club, he has a father who played football and knows what’s right,” he said.