# Masoud Juma

Masoud Juma Choka (born 3 February 1996) is a Kenyan footballer who plays as a forward for the Esteghlal Team and Kenya national team.

## Club career
### Early years

Born and raised in Isiolo, Juma began playing football at Tumaini Primary School. He then led his Isiolo Barracks Secondary School team to the Coca-Cola/AFCO Inter-military Schools Championship, where he was named tournament MVP with five goals. During this time, he also featured for Isiolo Youth FC, in the fifth-tier Kenyan County Champions League. He then joined FKF Division One club Kambakia Christian Centre FC for a short while before rejoining Isiolo Youth FC in February 2014.

### Professional career

He was soon discovered by Kenyan National Super League team Shabana during a national talent search held in Kasarani. During the 2014 season, Juma scored five goals in three months, drawing comparisons to legendary Kenyan striker Dennis Oliech. That summer, after being linked with several top clubs, Juma signed a two-year deal with Kenyan Premier League side Bandari. After struggling in the second half of the year, Juma started the 2015 season with promise. However, in a fixture against SoNy Sugar in April, he suffered an ankle injury which kept him out for five months. Coincidentally, this happened right after earning a call-up to the Kenya U23 squad. He was back in action by September, and helped Bandari close out the season to finish in fourth place. During the 2015 FKF President's Cup final in December, Juma scored eight minutes after replacing Farid Mohammed to seal Bandari's 4–2 win over Nakumatt.
Despite his strong showing after returning from injury, Juma did not receive much playing time during the first half of the 2016 season, mainly due to the acquisitions of Dan Sserunkuma, Edwin Lavatsa and Meshack Karani in January. He made it known through social media that he planned on finding another team during the nearing midseason transfer window. Although technical director Edward Oduor tried denying the reports, Juma was soon linked to SoNy Sugar, and eventually signed with them in June. He scored his maiden goal with his new club in his sixth match of the season, against Western Stima. His stay at SoNy Sugar was highlighted by his "penchant for spectacular strikes," which helped him improve his stock in the eyes of many teams around the league. He also attracted the attention of Kenyan national team head coach Stanley Okumbi, who called him up to the squad in June.
He was picked up by newly promoted Premier League side Kariobangi Sharks in January 2017. He scored five goals in the 2017 President's Cup campaign, including two in the semi-finals against SoNy Sugar to secure the Sharks their first-ever appearance in the finals, where they eventually lost to A.F.C. Leopards. He also earned the Premier League Golden Boot by netting a league-best 18 goals that season. Sharks finished in third place.
In June 2017, Juma trained with Swedish clubs AIK and Jönköpings Södra, followed by South African side Bidvest Wits in July, but he was signed by Cape Town City on 2 January 2018.
On 22 September, Juma signed for Dibba Club in UAE.
On 26 February 2019, Juma joined Libyan champions Al-Nasr Benghazi.
On 29 January 2023, Juma joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Faisaly on loan from Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi.
On 8 July 2023, Juma joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Jabalain.

## International career

While at Bandari, Juma earned a call-up to the Kenya national under-23 team, in preparation for the upcoming 2015 African Games qualifying campaign. However, an injury sustained during a Premier League fixture prevented him from joining the national team.
Juma made his senior international debut for Kenya in June 2017, when he was named to the starting XI of a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Sierra Leone. He was the subject of severe criticism from the Kenyan fans following his performance, mainly stemming from a missed shot in the early minutes of what eventually ended as a 2–1 loss. Critics felt that the starting role should have been given to a more established striker, namely Stephen Waruru (the Premier League's top scorer at the time).
He earned his second cap during a friendly against Mauritania two months later, where he scored with a 58th-minute header. This match, however, was not considered a full international match, since Kenya fielded a 'B' team composed only of locally based players.

## Career statistics
### International

    As of 20 November 2023
Kenya :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2017 | 7 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | 3 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 | 1 |
| 2023 | 6 | 3 |
| Total | 22 | 8 |

### International goals

    As of 20 November 2023 (scores and results list Kenya's goal tally first)
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 31 August 2017 | Adrar Stadium, Agadir, Morocco | Mauritania | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 2. | 3 December 2017 | Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega, Kenya | Rwanda | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2017 CECAFA Cup |
| 3. | 17 December 2017 | Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, Kenya | Zanzibar | 2–1 | 2–2 (3–2 p) | 2017 CECAFA Cup |
| 4. | 11 November 2020 | Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi, Kenya | Comoros | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 5. | 29 March 2021 | Stade de Kégué, Lomé, Togo | Togo | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 6. | 16 October 2023 | Mardan Sports Complex, Aksu, Turkey | Russia | 2–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 7. | 16 November 2023 | Stade de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon | Gabon | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8. | 20 November 2023 | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast | Seychelles | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |

## Honours

Bandari
* FKF President's Cup: 2015
* Kenyan Super Cup: 2016
Kenya
* CECAFA Cup: 2017
Individual
* Kenyan Premier League top scorer: 2017

## Personal life

Juma is a supporter of Arsenal.