Lawrence Olum is a Kenya

Kenya

Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...

n professional footballer who plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...

, as a midfielder

Midfielder

A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...

.

College and amateur

Olum spent four years playing college soccer

College soccer

College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...

 at Missouri Baptist University

Missouri Baptist University

Missouri Baptist University is a private evangelical Christian, coeducational university located in western St. Louis County in Creve Coeur Missouri. In August 2002, the Missouri Baptist College was officially renamed Missouri Baptist University...

, earning earning NAIA honorable mention All-America honors three times.

After graduating, Olum spent the 2006 season with the St. Louis Lions

St. Louis Lions

St. Louis Lions is an American soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at the...

 of the USL Premier Development League

USL Premier Development League

The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...

, scoring 9 goals in 16 games.

Professional

Olum turned professional with the Portland Timbers

Portland Timbers (USL)

Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...

 of the USL First Division

USL First Division

The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....

 in 2007, before moving to the Minnesota Thunder

Minnesota Thunder

Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...

 in March 2009. He later played for the Austin Aztex and Orlando City, before moving to Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...

 in September 2011.

International

Olum was the subject of interest from the Kenyan national team

Kenya national football team

The Kenya national football team, nicknamed the Harambee Stars, is the national team of Kenya and is controlled by Football Kenya Limited, the governing body of football in Kenya. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals.-History:...

in November 2009.