Exclusive: David Kasumu Vows to Lead Huddersfield’s Charge After Disappointing Season

Midfield maestro David Kasumu has bought into Huddersfield’s blueprint for success – but he knows hard work and focus is the only way the club are going to win promotion back to the Championship.

The 25-year-old penned a contracted extension with the Terriers until 2027 in November, hopeful the ambitious Yorkshire club would win promotion back to the second tier at the first time of asking.

But their season went from bad to worse as their play-off hopes disintegrated in spectacular fashion with just one win in their last nine league games.

And it saw the former Premier League club finish tenth in the standings, 14 points behind sixth-placed Leyton Orient, after a season which had promised so much.

The club sacked head coach Michael Duff in March with academy manager Jon Worthington replacing him at the managerial help.

The Terriers had lost four of their last five games at the stage in the season, but the change in boss did little to help with an upturn in fortunes.

Worthington was unable to stop the rot as the misfiring Terriers finished the season with a whimper.

SERIOUS CHARGE

Next season Kasumu hopes the Terriers will mount a serious charge for the Championship.

“We haven’t achieved anything yet – and I haven’t achieved anything yet,” Kasumu told SportsBoom.com. 

“There’s still a long way to go and how we stick together moving forward. We’ve got to keep the standards high. There’s definitely more to come from me and, in the squad, we’ve got loads of quality players."

“There’s competition for places all across the pitch, so that’s what is going to make performances better."

“Getting relegated wasn’t nice and we’ve learnt from that, but the mentality has shifted to us wanting to get promoted."

“But this league isn’t easy and there’s still challenges from every opposition."

“The journey from being relegated to trying to get back in the Championship is something I really want to be part of.”

Lambeth-born Kasumu joined the Terriers from former club MK Dons in the summer of 2022, with Huddersfield forced to pay compensation because of his age.

And he has quickly become a fans’ favourite at the John Smith’s Stadium, especially having stayed with the club following relegation and bought into their vision to get promoted back to the second tier.

BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

“You want to make your own history and be a part of a team that has been successful,” added Kasumu, who was a mainstay of their side this season with 36 appearances and four goals under his belt.

“That motivates you achieve your own things and create your own history with the club."

“It’s about creating new memories, that’s the other motivation as well."

“I believe in the project here, I believe this club can go far places."

“I want to be a part of that and be part of the journey."

“It’s been a rollercoaster time at the club with the club, especially with the relegation we experienced [two seasons ago]."

“But there’s still plenty to come from me and the team. There’s loads of room for improvement.”