Poland – April 7, 2025
Kenyan international Erick “Marcelo” Ouma Otieno delivered a crucial assist as Raków Częstochowa were held to a dramatic 1-1 draw by Puszcza Niepołomice in a fiercely contested Polish Ekstraklasa encounter on Monday evening.
The Harambee Stars left back, known for his blistering runs and precision crosses, was instrumental in Raków’s opening goal. In the 28th minute, Ouma floated a pinpoint pass into the path of Spaniard Ivi Lopez, who guided the ball into the net, giving the visitors a deserved lead.
Raków started the match strongly, with Lopez already testing the opposition with an early strike following a quick exchange with Gustav Berggren. Norwegian forward Jonatan Braut Brunes also had a couple of near misses, first in the 13th minute with a tame shot, and again later after a pass from Lopez, coming just centimeters shy of doubling the lead.
The hosts, however, were not without threat. Greek striker Michalis Kosidis came close with a header, while Polish winger Mateusz Cholewiak’s powerful shot from inside the box narrowly missed the target, keeping Raków’s defense on high alert.
The second half saw more pressure from Raków, with Brazilian striker Adriano Luís Amorim Santos testing Puszcza goalkeeper Kewin Komar in a one-on-one, only for the shot-stopper to come out on top. Ouma nearly registered a second assist in the 67th minute, delivering another dangerous cross that Brunes directed just wide of the post.
Raków’s narrow lead looked secure until deep into stoppage time when Puszcza mounted a last-gasp attack. In the 90+4th minute, Belarusian forward Herman Barkouski capitalized on a goalmouth scramble to stab home the equalizer, sending the home crowd into wild celebrations and denying Raków their seventh consecutive victory.
Despite the late disappointment, Raków remain top of the table, three points clear of Lech Poznań and four ahead of reigning champions Jagiellonia Białystok, with just seven matches remaining in the title race. A league title would secure Raków’s place in the UEFA Champions League—an opportunity that would make Erick Ouma Otieno one of the few Kenyans to feature in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
Ouma’s performance not only earned praise from fans and pundits but also highlighted his growing influence in Raków’s title chase and his dream of etching his name in Kenyan football history on the European stage.
