Kenyan striker Masud Juma’s time at Esteghlal FC appears to be coming to an end, according to Iranian media reports. Esteghlal are preparing to part ways with the Harambee Stars forward after a difficult five-month spell plagued by injuries and limited appearances.
As reported by Iranian outlet Sports Three, Juma faced criticism from the start of his time at Esteghlal. His recruitment raised concerns within the club due to his history of serious injuries during his stint in Saudi Arabia and his long absence from the pitch. Despite these reservations, then-head coach Pitso Mosimane endorsed his signing. However, Juma struggled to make an impact, scoring only once — against Sepahan — and missing numerous important matches, including the two legs against Al-Nasr in the AFC Champions League and crucial league games against Persepolis, Tractor, Foolad, and Golgohar.
The Iranian outlet emphasized that Juma’s recurring physical problems, backed by medical documentation, have paved the way for the club to list him for departure. Sports Three described the likelihood of him staying as “close to zero percent,” noting his “not-so-bright appearance history” and physical condition.
Supporting these reports, Juma posted a message on his Instagram account that read, “It was just 5 months, and we move,” appearing to acknowledge his imminent exit.
Esteghlal themselves have endured a turbulent season, having gone through seven different coaches. Following the departure of Pitso Mosimane, Serbian coach Miodrag Božović took charge but was dismissed last week after a string of poor results. Former Iranian international Mojtaba Jabbari has since taken over on an interim basis until the end of the season.
Juma joined Esteghlal after recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture that kept him sidelined for six months, but his time in Tehran has not gone as planned. With Esteghlal looking to rebuild ahead of next season, all indications point towards an early end to Juma’s Iranian adventure.
