DULWICH HAMLET WELCOME STONES FRONTMAN TO CHAMPION HILL

Former West Ham target, striker Dumebi Dumaka, has signed for the club from Maidstone United on loan.

22-year-old DD, as he’s affectionately known by the fans, originally signed for Jay Saunders’ Stones back in February of this year having previously been with Grays Athletic since August 2014. Whilst with the Blues he had proved prolific in front of goal having netted 23 goals for the Essex side that season before his move the Gallagher Stadium.

As well as the Hammers, the likes of Ipswich Town, Cambridge United and Fleetwood, who spotted a certain Jamie Vardy in the raw, were all keeping tabs on the free scoring forward so it came as coup when Saunders swooped to sign Dumaka. A whirlwind start at his new club saw Dumaka sign on the Friday and go straight into the First Team squad on the Saturday. It could not have been a better start as he scored the winner away to Bishops’ Stortford on a boggy pitch that possibly denied him a debut hat trick! He chipped in with a further five goals in 15 appearances for Maidstone and it was his last gasp strike against Ebbsfleet United in the Vanarama National League South promotion final that took the tie to a penalty shoot-out, eventually won by the Stones.

This season has proved a difficult one for the Stones’ promotion hero. Already having spent time on loan at Concord Rangers, Dumaka has slipped down the pecking order at the Gallagher with the arrival of experienced strikers Liam Enver-Marum from Oxford City and Yemi Odubade formerly of Eastleigh, making a total of just 6 appearances.

Outside football DD has led social projects with AIESEC, whose motto is “Empowering Young People for Peace and Fulfilment of Humankind’s Potential”, working in schools in São Paulo, Brazil.

The loan deal is for an initial two months and DD will go straight into the squad for Saturday’s Ryman League Premier Division fixture away to Leatherhead.