Striker Otuoma to be laid to rest on January 11
Former Kenyan Premier League footballer Ezekiel Otuoma.
Football Kenya Federation Premier League player Ezekiel Otuoma will be laid to rest at his parents' home in Ramula, Gem, Siaya County on January 11.
Family spokesman Dennis Mogendi, popularly known as Mosh Junior, told Nation Sport that preparations are underway to give the former striker a befitting send-off.
Otuoma, 31, passed away last Saturday, December 21, after a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a rare condition that affects the nerves in the brain and causes muscle weakness.
His wife, Racheal Otuoma, told Nation Sport at the time that the former AFC Leopards attacker died on arrival at Shalom Community Hospital in Athi River, where he had been rushed after his condition deteriorated.
His body is being kept at the nearby Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home.
Ulinzi Stars, FC Talanta, Western Stima (defunct) and Muhoroni Youth are the other Kenyan clubs for which Otuoma played.
Mogendi said a requiem mass for the prolific attacker will be held on January 9 at a venue yet to be decided.
Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home is among the venues being considered for the requiem mass. The body will be flown to Kisumu the following day before being transported by road to Gem for burial.
A fundraising event to cover the cost of the funeral will be held on January 8 at Mbotela Social Hall in Makadara Constituency, Nairobi. During the event, people will also light candles in his honour.
Mogendi also revealed plans for a football tournament in Otuoma's honour at the Absa Bank Sports Club on Thika Road on January 5.
He noted that the tournament, which is expected to feature Otuoma's former team-mates and a select FKF-PL team, will only take place if there are no top-flight league matches scheduled for that day.
Many had predicted a bright future for Otuoma because of his speed and fluid ball-handling skills.
However, he struggled to reach his full potential. In November 2020, he was diagnosed with MND.
Although the disease eventually confined Otuoma to a wheelchair, his wife, Racheal, would take him to stadiums to watch games whenever his condition allowed.
He was constantly in and out of the hospital.
Racheal said she stayed by Otuoma's side throughout his illness because "he loved me so much".
In her post on TikTok announcing her husband's death on Saturday, Racheal said: "To my husband, you have left a hole in my heart that no one else can fill. The emptiness in my arms reminds me of the love we shared, your love was a gift and I'll always cherish it".
"Although it was so soon it really broke my heart you left on my birthday it will never be the same again you never said I was leaving or even gave a sign you never said goodbye in life I loved you dearly in death I still love you in my heart you hold a place only you can fill. IT broke my heart to lose you but you didn't go alone a part of me went with you. TILL WE MEET AGAIN," she added.
