Harambee Stars left-back Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma has revealed dreams of playing in the prestigious UEFA Champions League with his current Polish outfit Raków Częstochowa.
The former Gor Mahia player moved to Poland on a two-year contract from Swedish side AIK earlier this year and is hoping that he will get to fulfill his dream while at the club.
Raków made its debut in the UEFA Champions League during the 2023/24 season. They reached the playoff round but were eliminated by FC Copenhagen after losing 3-1 on aggregate, ending their campaign before the group stages.
In an interview, Ouma said his primary target was to compete for a regular spot in the starting lineup, which he has now achieved and is hopeful to win trophies this season.
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“My primary target was to come here and compete for a regular starting slot, and so far so good. I would also like to help the team win trophies, including the league this season, which will help us qualify to play in Europe,” he told Telecom Asia.
Erick further stated that his only dream is to play in the Champions League next season with his current club, something he believes is possible, as the team is very competitive and has started the season well.
“My dream is to play in the UEFA Champions League with Raków, and I believe it is achievable. This is a really good competitive team and we have started the season quite well. I believe if we continue this way and put in more effort, we will achieve our targets,” he explained.
Ouma, who is currently on international duty with the Harambee Stars for the AFCON 2025 qualification matches in South Africa, said the injuries he sustained at the beginning of the season disrupted his performance, making it difficult for him to regain his form.
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However, he remains hopeful that this season will be a good one for him to achieve his goals.
“I had a difficult spell just at the start of the season with injury and it was really tough because it disrupted the rhythm I had picked up. But I am grateful because I have recovered fully and I feel stronger and ready to continue with the strong performances.”
“Hopefully things will be better as the season progresses because I really have high targets for myself this season. I am working hard to ensure that I achieve whatever I have set out for myself personally and for the team as well.”
Ouma also revealed his secret to earning a place in the starting lineup soon after joining the Polish side.
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“Getting a chance to play is always about hard work and discipline. You also need to be very attentive to what the coach wants from you in his system and give your best.
The Polish league is really competitive compared to Georgia and Sweden,” he added.
Ouma, 28, began his senior career at Gor Mahia FC before moving to Georgian side Kolkheti-1913 in January 2017.
A year later, he joined KS Kastrioti of Albania, and in July 2018, he transferred to Sweden’s third-division team Vasalunds IF. He later moved to AIK before joining Raków Częstochowa.
Harambee Stars defender Marcelo celebrates
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