Masoud Juma

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Masoud Juma

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| full_name = Masoud Juma Choka

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|2|3|df=y}}

| birth_place = Isiolo, Kenya

| height = 1.86 m

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Esteghlal

| clubnumber = 91

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Isiolo Barracks Secondary

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Isiolo Youth FC

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = Kambakia Christian Centre

| years1 = 2014

| clubs1 = Shabana

| caps1 = 5

| goals1 = 5

| years2 = 2014–2016

| clubs2 = Bandari

| caps2 = 10

| goals2 = 8

| years3 = 2016–2017

| clubs3 = SoNy Sugar

| caps3 = 28

| goals3 = 15

| years4 = 2017–2018

| clubs4 = Kariobangi Sharks

| caps4 = 31

| goals4 = 24

| years5 = 2018

| clubs5 = Cape Town City

| caps5 = 4

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2018

| clubs6 = Dibba Al-Fujairah

| caps6 = 10

| goals6 = 4

| years7 = 2019

| clubs7 = Al-Nasr Benghazi

| caps7 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2019–2020

| clubs8 = JS Kabylie

| caps8 = 10

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2020–2023

| clubs9 = Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi

| caps9 = 56

| goals9 = 16

| years10 = 2023

| clubs10 = → Al-Faisaly (loan)

| caps10 = 13

| goals10 = 8

| years11 = 2023–2024

| clubs11 = Al-Jabalain

| caps11 = 10

| goals11 = 1

| years12 = 2024–

| clubs12 = Esteghlal

| caps12 = 6

| goals12 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2015

| nationalteam1 = Kenya U23

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 2017–

| nationalteam2 = Kenya

| nationalcaps2 = 22

| nationalgoals2 = 8

| club-update = 18:32, 18 April 2022 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 22:00, 20 November 2023 (UTC)

}}

Masoud Juma Choka (born 3 February 1996) is a Kenyan footballer who plays as a forward for the Persian Gulf Pro League club Esteghlal and Kenya national team.[http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/68317/Masoud_Juma.html National-Football-Teams profile]{{cite web |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2019/07/28/jsk-un-international-kenyan-arrive-159691.php|title=JSK : Un international kenyan arrive

}}

Club career

=Early years=

Born and raised in Isiolo, Juma began playing football at Tumaini Primary School.{{cite news|url=http://sportpesanews.com/isiolo-spl-golden-boot-masoud-juma/|title=From Isiolo To SPL Golden Boot: The Rise Of Masoud Juma|publisher=Sportpesa News|date=10 November 2017|accessdate=20 November 2017}} He then led his Isiolo Barracks Secondary School team to the Coca-Cola/AFCO Inter-military Schools Championship, where he was named tournament MVP with five goals.{{cite news|url=http://www.futaa.com/article/119703/profile-harambee-stars-call-up--masud-juma|title=Profile: Harambee Stars call up – Masud Juma|first=Luke|last=Oluoch|publisher=futaa.com|date=13 August 2014|accessdate=17 November 2017}} During this time, he also featured for Isiolo Youth FC, in the fifth-tier Kenyan County Champions League. He then joined FKF Division One club Kambakia Christian Centre FC for a short while before rejoining Isiolo Youth FC in February 2014.

=Professional career=

He was soon discovered by Kenyan National Super League team Shabana during a national talent search held in Kasarani. During the 2014 season, Juma scored five goals in three months, drawing comparisons to legendary Kenyan striker Dennis Oliech.{{cite news|url=http://www.futaa.com/article/87574/selebwa-in-praise-of-masoud-juma|title=Selebwa in praise of Masoud Juma|first=Vincent|last=Opiyo|publisher=futaa.com|date=17 June 2014|accessdate=17 November 2017}} That summer, after being linked with several top clubs, Juma signed a two-year deal with Kenyan Premier League side Bandari.{{cite news|url=http://www.futaa.com/article/88256/bandari-lands-shabana-talisman|title=Bandari lands Shabana talisman|first=Luke|last=Oluoch|publisher=futaa.com|date=30 June 2014|accessdate=17 November 2017}} After struggling in the second half of the year, Juma started the 2015 season with promise. However, in a fixture against SoNy Sugar in April, he suffered an ankle injury which kept him out for five months.{{cite news|url=http://www.soka.co.ke/news/item/kenya-u23-call-up-back-on-track|title=Juma back after five months out with injury|first=Vincent|last=Stephen|publisher=soka.co.ke|date=12 August 2015|accessdate=17 November 2017}} Coincidentally, this happened right after earning a call-up to the Kenya U23 squad.{{cite news|url=http://www.futaa.com/article/107565/-bandari-forward-elated-with-resuming-fitness-after-lenghty-layoff|title=Bandari forward elated with resuming fitness after {{sic|nolink=y|expected=lengthy|len|ghty}} layoff|first=Luke|last=Oluoch|publisher=futaa.com|date=22 September 2017|accessdate=17 November 2017}} He was back in action by September, and helped Bandari close out the season to finish in fourth place. During the 2015 FKF President's Cup final in December, Juma scored eight minutes after replacing Farid Mohammed to seal Bandari's 4–2 win over Nakumatt.{{cite news|url=http://www.futaa.co.tz/article/111069/twahir-full-of-praise-for-bandari-youngster|title=Twahir full of praise for Bandari youngster|first=Samuel|last=Gacharira|publisher=futaa.co.tz|date=29 December 2015|accessdate=17 November 2017}}

Despite his strong showing after returning from injury, Juma did not receive much playing time during the first half of the 2016 season, mainly due to the acquisitions of Dan Sserunkuma, Edwin Lavatsa and Meshack Karani in January.{{cite news|url=http://www.soka.co.ke/transfers/item/bandari-hang-on-to-promising-forward|title=Bandari hang on to promising forward|first=Samuel|last=Gacharira|publisher=soka.co.ke|date=1 June 2016|accessdate=18 November 2017}} He made it known through social media that he planned on finding another team during the nearing midseason transfer window.{{cite news|url=http://www.soka.co.ke/transfers/item/bandari-striker-quits|title=Bandari striker quits|first=Zachary|last=Oguda|publisher=soka.co.ke|date=27 May 2016|accessdate=18 November 2017}} Although technical director Edward Oduor tried denying the reports, Juma was soon linked to SoNy Sugar, and eventually signed with them in June.{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-ke/news/4523/kenyan-premier-league/2016/06/02/24186072/kpl-june-transfer-window-officially-swings-open|title=KPL June transfer window officially swings open|first=Chrisphine|last=Magak|publisher=Goal|date=2 June 2016|accessdate=18 November 2017}} He scored his maiden goal with his new club in his sixth match of the season, against Western Stima.{{cite news|url=http://www.soka.co.ke/news/item/masoud-relieved-after-opening-sony-sugar-account|title=Masoud relieved after opening Sony Sugar account|first=Samuel|last=Gacharira|publisher=soka.co.ke|date=8 August 2016|accessdate=19 November 2017}} His stay at SoNy Sugar was highlighted by his "penchant for spectacular strikes," which helped him improve his stock in the eyes of many teams around the league. He also attracted the attention of Kenyan national team head coach Stanley Okumbi, who called him up to the squad in June.

He was picked up by newly promoted Premier League side Kariobangi Sharks in January 2017.{{cite news|url=http://www.futaa.com/article/123954/sony-sugar-striker-set-to-join-kariobangi-sharks|title=SoNy Sugar striker set to join Kariobangi Sharks|first=Kevin|last=Teya|publisher=futaa.com|date=22 January 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}} He scored five goals in the 2017 President's Cup campaign, including two in the semi-finals against SoNy Sugar to secure the Sharks their first-ever appearance in the finals, where they eventually lost to A.F.C. Leopards.{{cite news|url=http://sportpesanews.com/juma-brace-steers-sharks/|title=Juma Brace Steers Sharks Into Final|publisher=Sportpesa News|date=24 September 2017|accessdate=20 November 2017}} He also earned the Premier League Golden Boot by netting a league-best 18 goals that season.{{cite news|url=https://citizentv.co.ke/sports/swansong-for-kagere-as-juma-carts-the-golden-boot-182684/|title=Swansong for Kagere as Juma carts the Golden Boot|first=Matthews|last=Mutai|publisher=Citizen TV|date=18 November 2017|accessdate=20 November 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-ke/news/kariobangi-sharks-striker-tops-the-chart/ut2ln4si3fj01l7xngzv694y2|title=Kariobangi Sharks Striker Tops the Chart|first=Elvince|last=Joshua|publisher=Goal.com|date=18 November 2017|accessdate=20 November 2017}} Sharks finished in third place.

In June 2017, Juma trained with Swedish clubs AIK and Jönköpings Södra,{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-ke/news/kariobangi-sharks-striker-off-for-trials-in-sweden/djykkjw58avf1p4sr7v47avy2|title=Kariobangi Sharks Striker Off for Trials in Sweden|first=Dennis|last=Mabuka|publisher=Goal.com|date=15 June 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/sports/masoud-juma-trials-south-africa/|title=Masoud Juma Optimistic Despite Failed Trials in South Africa|first=Nahashon|last=Musungu|publisher=Daily Nation|date=2 August 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}} followed by South African side Bidvest Wits in July,{{cite news|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/77589/bidvest-wits-hand-kenyan-striker-masoud-juma-a-trial|title=Bidvest Wits hand Kenyan striker Masoud Juma a trial|first=Ernest|last=Fakude|publisher=Kickoff|date=27 July 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/sports/masoud-juma-trials-bidvest-wits/|title=Masoud Juma on Trials with South Africa's Bidvest Wits|first=Nahashon|last=Musungu|publisher=Daily Nation|date=28 July 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}} but he was signed by Cape Town City on 2 January 2018.

On 22 September, Juma signed for Dibba Club in UAE.[https://touchsports.co.ke/football/masud-juma-makes-uae-switch/ Masud Juma makes UAE switch], touchsports.co.ke, 22 September 2018

On 26 February 2019, Juma joined Libyan champions Al-Nasr Benghazi.[https://www.goal.com/en-ke/news/harambee-stars-striker-masoud-juma-joins-libyan-champions-al/1mcusmwe98o2w153cqg5ci0utp Harambee Stars striker Masoud Juma joins Libyan champions Al Nasr], goal.com, 25 February 2019

On 29 January 2023, Juma joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Faisaly on loan from Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi.{{cite web |title=إدارة النادي تنهي اجراءات انتقال اللاعب الكيني " جمعة مسعود " |url=https://twitter.com/AlFaisaly/status/1619442646048718848}}

On 8 July 2023, Juma joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Jabalain.{{cite web |title=رسمياً المهاجم الكيني جمعة مسعود جبلاوياً |url=https://twitter.com/aljabalainFC/status/1683601737372893185}}

International career

While at Bandari, Juma earned a call-up to the Kenya national under-23 team, in preparation for the upcoming 2015 African Games qualifying campaign. However, an injury sustained during a Premier League fixture prevented him from joining the national team.

Juma made his senior international debut for Kenya in June 2017, when he was named to the starting XI of a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Sierra Leone.{{cite news|url=http://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/sports/masoud-juma-back-home-failed-trials-sweden/|title=Masoud Juma Back Home After Failed Trials In Sweden|first=Nahashon|last=Musungu|publisher=Daily Nation|date=1 July 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://footballkenya.org/masoud-juma-harambee-stars-sierra-leone/|title=Masoud Juma, Olunga to lead Harambee Stars onslaught against Sierra Leone|publisher=Football Kenya Federation|date=10 June 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}} He was the subject of severe criticism from the Kenyan fans following his performance, mainly stemming from a missed shot in the early minutes of what eventually ended as a 2–1 loss.{{cite news|url=http://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/sports/masoud-juma-harambee-stars/|title=Finally, Masoud Juma Comes Good for Harambee Stars|first=David|last=Kwalimwa|publisher=Daily Nation|date=1 September 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}} Critics felt that the starting role should have been given to a more established striker, namely Stephen Waruru (the Premier League's top scorer at the time).{{cite news|url=http://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/sports/masoud-juma-haters/|title=I Don't Need You, Masoud Juma Tells 'Haters'|first=Nahashon|last=Musungu|publisher=Daily Nation|date=3 July 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.kenyanstar.co.ke/index.php/football/2430-okumbi-justifies-his-decision-to-start-masoud-juma|title=Okumbi Justifies His Decision To Start Masoud Juma|first=Tyson|last=Babu|work=The Star|date=13 June 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}}

He earned his second cap during a friendly against Mauritania two months later, where he scored with a 58th-minute header.{{cite news|url=http://www.soka.co.ke/news/item/masoud-on-the-mark-as-mauritania-holds-harambee-stars|title=Masoud on the mark as Mauritania holds Harambee Stars|first=Zachary|last=Oguda|publisher=soka.co.ke|date=31 August 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://footballkenya.org/masoud-ontarget-mauritania-friendly/|title=Masud on target as Mauritania holds Stars in friendly|publisher=Football Kenya Federation|date=31 August 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}}

This match, however, was not considered a full international match, since Kenya fielded a 'B' team composed only of locally based players.{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/harambee-stars-hold-mauritania-in-away-friendly/1xxfc95xvxugr18dj2zem5ywbv|title=Harambee Stars Hold Mauritania in Away Friendly|publisher=Goal.com|date=31 August 2017|accessdate=19 November 2017}}

Career statistics

=International=

Year	Apps	Goals
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan=3 \| Kenya
2017	7	3
2019	2	0
2020	3	1
2021	4	1
2023	6	3
Total\|\|22\|\|8

=International goals=

{{updated|20 November 2023}} (scores and results list Kenya's goal tally first)

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
1.	31 August 2017	Adrar Stadium, Agadir, Morocco	{{fb\|MTN}}	align=center \| 1–0	align=center \| 1–1	Friendly
2.	3 December 2017	Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega, Kenya	{{fb\|RWA}}	align=center \| 1–0	align=center \| 2–0	2017 CECAFA Cup
3.	17 December 2017	Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, Kenya	{{fb\|ZAN}}	align=center \| 2–1	align=center \| 2–2 {{pen\|3–2}}	2017 CECAFA Cup
4.	11 November 2020	Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi, Kenya	{{fb\|COM}}	align=center \| 1–1	align=center \| 1–1	2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
5.	29 March 2021	Stade de Kégué, Lomé, Togo	{{fb\|TOG}}	align=center \| 2–0	align=center \| 2–1	2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
6.	16 October 2023	Mardan Sports Complex, Aksu, Turkey	{{fb\|RUS}}	align=center \| 2–1	align=center \| 2–2	Friendly
7.	16 November 2023	Stade de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon	{{fb\|GAB}}	align=center \| 1–0	align=center \| 1–2	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
8.	20 November 2023	Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast	{{fb\|SEY}}	align=center \| 3–0	align=center \| 5–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Bandari

Kenya

CECAFA Cup: 2017

Individual

Kenyan Premier League top scorer: 2017{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

Personal life

Juma is a supporter of Arsenal.{{cite news|url=https://sportika.co.ke/exclusive-masoud-juma-on-goalsbotched-trials-and-lessons-from-michael-olunga/|title=Exclusive: Masoud Juma on goals, future and lessons from Olunga|publisher=sportika.co.ke|date=15 November 2017|accessdate=20 November 2017}}