Jacques Tuyisenge made a significant leap in his career when he penned his contract with Gor Mahia on January 13, 2016. However, his arrival was met with a shadow of uncertainty, as he came burdened by a knee injury that sidelined him for an extended period. This injury sparked hesitation among K’Ogalo follower – The Green Army, who were anxious about his potential.
Despite initial skepticism, fans longed to witness his true abilities on the pitch and hoped he would silence the naysayers. During this time, the club welcomed a new head coach from Brazil, José Marcelo Ferreira, affectionately known as Zé Maria. Under his guidance, the Camp Toyoyo training ground transformed into a vibrant hub of energy, echoing with the rhythms of tiki-taka football intertwined with the flair of the Samba Boys.
As the days went by in training, Jacques was seen engaging in light workouts, often separated from the main group. With focused strides and careful stretches, he gradually built up his fitness, though the eager eyes of fans watched from the sidelines. A quirky fan group began to coalesce around the training sessions (a story best saved for another day), stirring excitement and raising the management’s concerns, which ultimately led to restrictions on fan attendance at the training arena.
The day of reckoning arrived on April 2, 2016, when Tuyisenge finally graced the pitch during a thrilling match against Kakamega Homeboyz at Mumias Complex. In a defining moment for his career, he scored the second goal for K’Ogalo and assisted in the third, cementing his place in the hearts of those present. Unfortunately, the thrilling moments were largely confined to news reports and the limited audience of fans who made the journey to witness the event firsthand.
For those supporters unable to witness his debut, anticipation swelled as they awaited his performance in Zé Maria’s starting eleven against Thika United at the iconic Nyayo Stadium. When the match commenced, it was electric. Gor Mahia rallied from a goal down to net two stunning goals, largely thanks to the new talent of Jacques Tuyisenge.
His journey would be etched in the annals of club history, celebrated as a player whose heart and commitment embodied the spirit (juogi) of K’Ogalo.
As K’Ogalo embraces the tradition of giving great players nicknames, JaUsenge (which translates to “a man from Usenge,” near Got Ramogi) received this particular name. Perhaps this nickname provided him with additional strength, as Usenge is close to the area where the Luo nation settled after their journey from Sudan.
