Kenyan international Joseph Okumu, the towering center-back for Stade Reims, has earned a nomination for the club’s Player of the Month award for March 2025 following his standout performances in French Ligue 1.

The nomination comes after Okumu played a pivotal role in Reims’ impressive 3-1 victory against title contenders Olympique Marseille on March 30, cementing his place among the club’s top performers.

Competing Against Elite Defenders

Okumu finds himself in a competitive list of 18 players, with the defensive unit dominating the nominations. His competitors include:

• Goalkeeper Yevhvann Diouf
• Sergio Akeime
• Portuguese defender Aurelio Buta
• Ivorian center-back Cedric Kipre

Stade Reims’ March Performance

The six-time French champions had a mixed month under coach Samba Diawara:

• March 9: 2-0 defeat to Auxerre
• March 16: 0-0 draw against Brest (away)
• March 30: 3-1 victory over Marseille

Okumu was particularly instrumental in the Marseille clash, where his defensive masterclass helped secure three crucial points.

Defensive Masterclass Against Marseille

The Kenyan international put up staggering numbers in the Marseille match:

• 14 clearances
• 1 interception
• Set a new season record for clearances in consecutive matches

According to Rotowire, Okumu’s performance was especially impressive considering Marseille attempted 50 crosses during the game.

International Duty Controversy

The nomination comes after Okumu missed Kenya’s recent international matches against Gambia and Gabon. Coach Benni McCarthy explained the absence was due to a misunderstanding with the club.

“There was just a misunderstanding with the manager and Stanley [Okumu] and the club, so he is not here. My concern is not with the players not here. I want to focus on being positive with the players that are here,” McCarthy stated.