Olunga’s Days are Numbered – Ex-Harambee Stars Captain

Oliech feels it's high time Gor Mahia's Benson Omalla played alongside Olunga since the latter might not be here for long

Ian Muyumba Ian Muyumba
Apr 13, 2023 - 02:52 Updated: Apr 10, 2024 - 15:50
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Olunga’s Days are Numbered – Ex-Harambee Stars Captain
Dennis Oliech donning the Kenyan National team colors.

Former Harambee Stars talisman, Dennis Oliech, has bemoaned the omission of Benson Omalla from the national team’s final squad that faced Iran in a friendly match last month citing the need to groom him for the future.

According to Oliech, Omalla needs to start playing regularly alongside Michael Olunga as he believes the latter won’t be playing long for the national team.

“In a few years, Olunga may not be as lethal as he is at the moment and we need someone who can start understudying him now so that he can come in if he can no longer score the goals. In my opinion, Omala fits the bill perfectly. By now, the two should be playing together regularly to increase the team’s chances of scoring goals. Olunga has been playing alone for a long time and he needs a striker to support him,” said Oliech.

Al Duhail forward Michael Olunga during a past match. /COURTESY

The former Harambee Stars captain also believes that omitting Omalla from the squad might have sent the wrong message to Kenyan-based players who perform exceptionally. His sentiments were guided by the fact that the Gor Mahia striker tops the scoring charts and perhaps dropping him might have demoralized him.

“Omalla is currently the top scorer in the Kenyan league and for that only he deserves to have been allowed to play in that match. Dropping him sends the wrong signal to other players.”

Meanwhile, he was impressed by the quality of the opposition that Kenya faced in the friendly match and believed that such games will enable the team to improve. Accordingly, he urged the Kenya Football Federation to aim for matches with such pedigree.

“After Iran, we must aim for even bigger teams and play them consistently. It is the only way we can improve.”

Oliech also believes that in future, the Kenyan team should avoid errors that cost them the friendly match in question.

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