Revealed: No club wanted to sign Omala

Omala celebrates scoring against Tusker earlier this season. Photo Credit: Raymond Makhaya

FOOTBALL Revealed: No club wanted to sign Omala

Kiplagat Sang 08:17 - 15.06.2023

The centre-forward is a key figure in the Gor Mahia set-up and is establishing himself as a dependable scorer.

Former Gor Mahia forward Ronald Okoth has claimed that no club wanted to sign Harambee Stars striker Benson Omala back in the day.

The Gor Mahia forward and current Golden Boot race leader with 25 goals came into the limelight at the Chapa Dimba tournament while he was studying at Kisumu Day Secondary School.

It was during that tournament that Okoth scouted Omala, and the retired footballer has revealed how he struggled to get a club for the in-form K’Ogalo forward.

"In 2019, I equally met and worked with Omalla as the Chapa Dimba national finals mentor/scout courtesy of Safaricom," Okoth said in a post on his Twitter handle.

"We tried to contact a few clubs, but none were willing to give these champs (alongside Ulinzi Stars' Lucas Maina) a chance."

The former Sofapaka forward also revealed how Ulinzi Stars’ sensation Lucas Maina struggled to get a club.

"It's insane to imagine that back in 2019, I really struggled to find Lucas Maina a team working with him as his manager," the former Sofapaka forward said.

"Four years on, Ulinzi have taken a chance with him, and he is now on everyone’s lips and probably a couple of clubs' radar."

Omala has been a sensation in the ongoing Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) campaign and leads the goal scorers' chart.

His impressive form has also attracted the eyes of Harambee Stars’ head coach Engin Firat, who has twice called him up for senior international duties.

Although he was in the provisional squad ahead of the March 28 friendly against Iran, Omala was dropped when the final squad was drafted. However, he is in the current squad that is in Mauritius for the June Four-Nation Tournament.

On the other hand, Maina has been a revelation for Ulinzi.