After his premature exit of Qatar Stars League -Outfit Al Duhail SC, former international striker of Kenyah Elijah Ontika called the Harambee star captain Michael Olunga to aim a transfer movement to the best European competitions.
After a spell of four and a half years in Qatar, the Red Knights confirmed by a moving video that was placed on social media, with the many memories he had created since the accession had celebrated in January 2021, that Olunga finally left the club.
The video was accompanied by a statement that partly seemed: “The management of the Al-Duhail Spors Club is expanding its gratitude and appreciation for Kenyan striker Michael Olunga, the historical goal scorer of the club for what he postponed and exceptional performance during his career among the first team.”
The statement continued: “Olunga has been an example of professionalism and discipline on and next to the field, he has contributed considerably to the many performance and championships of the club and has also put a clear mark on the history of the club through his decisive goals and contributions.
“The Al-Duhail Club family wishes Michael Olunga the very best in his next stop and ensures that the doors of the club remain open for the historical flood scorer. Thanks Olunga. You will always be an integral part of the Duhail family.”
Olunga already leaves Duhail SC as the top scorer Duhail SC Media of all time
In his answer, the former Gor Mahia-Spits, who left Duhail the top scorer of all time with 130 goals in all competitions: “First of all, I want to thank the management of the club, starting with the President of the Club, the vice-president of the club, the support staff of the back room who really gained a lot of faith in me, since I was.
“I want to thank the coaches I worked with, I want to thank the players that we shared with the dressing room and the good moments we had together.”
Olunga added: “I want to thank all the subordinate employees, who really helped us, the medical team that has been to us during the time I have been here. It has really been a good four and half seasons since I came here, they have really shown me love.
“I really enjoyed my time here in Al Duhail, it has been a good journey, and all in all I enjoyed my time in this beautiful club. I leave Duhail with my head high and proud of my performance with the great club, and now wait to see what the future has in store.”
Olunga moved to the then champions Al-Duhail on a three-seasons contract for a reported transfer costs of € 6 million on January 2021, and his impact was felt immediately after he ended the season with six goals in nine performances.
He debuted for the club, in a 3-1 removed against Al Sadd, but scored his first hat trick in Duhail's 6-0 win against Al Ahli in the EMIR of Qatar Cup. Olunga finished as top scorer of the AFC Champions League 2021, but Al-Duhail poured out of the competition after a 1-1 draw with Al Ahli Saudi.
In his second full season in Duhail, Olunga came out the top scorer of the competition after 24 goals from 20 performances. In the 2022/23 season Olunga took 22 goals from 22 performances, while in 2023/24 he scored 15 goals from 18 games.
Last season Olunga finished with 12 goals, and two assists from 19 performances and his contribution was not good enough to help Duhail to retain the league title while they were defeated by Al Sadd, which ended the season top with 52 points, while Duhail came in second place with 50 points.
Olunga's recent statsflash score
Olunga should shift the focus on European return
According to Onsika, the qualities of Olunga deserve a European return for the player, who started his football trip with Liberty Sports Academy in the Nairobi County League, where he scored 32 goals for the side during the 2012 season, so that they end the season unbeaten and promote to the Nairobi Provincial League.
During his career, Olunga's only Europe stint a one-year loan agreement for LaLiga-side Girona FC in 2018 of the Chinese outfit Guizhou Zhicheng. He made his LABERA debut against Las Palmas and scored a hat trick in a 22 –0 period during a 6-0 win and became both the first Kenyan player and the first Girona player to score a hat trick in Laliga.
“Olunga must now look beyond Asia and the Middle East and focus on playing his remaining career in Europe,” Ontika told FlashScore. “We have seen what Olunga can do on a good day, we have seen what qualities Olunga can bring in every team, and it is the reason that I address his agent to try to get a team of top quality in Europe.
“Olunga deserves to play in the Premier League, he played in Spain, but slid back to Qatar, during his loan period with Girona he had the best opportunity to go in another big club in LaLiga or even to another top five competitions in Europe, but he would have chosen to go back to Europe.
'He should preferably knock on the doors of Premier League teams, he can fit very well into teams such as Arsenal, Newcastle United or even Everton. Olunga can be a deadly striker when he plays in the Premier League, he is good with air balls, he can dribble, he has a very powerful left foot and I have never seen him miss a punishment. “
Olunga in Actional Duhail SC Media
Onsika continued: “I see no reason why teams in Europe have to sign Olunga, given his finishing talent, looking at what he has achieved in Qatar. Only a stay of four years and he leaves 130 goals, he is sure, and a very disciplined player, he will be seldom in Europe and he will rider pray and he will pray in Europe and a very disciplined player.
After he played for various clubs in the Kenyan Premier League, including Tusker, Thika United and Gor Mahia, where he ended the 2015 season as the top scorer of the club in the league with 19 goals to help the side to win a record 15th league title without losing a single match in Europe in Europe.
He signed a four-year-old deal after the team of the team of the team for the season and scored his first two goals for Djurgarden in 2016 against IFK Goteborg in a 3-1 win. He was also called the name Man of the Match and the then Djurgarden coach Mark Dempsey praised him for his match-winning heroic deeds.
Olunga can be compared to Erling Haaland
Former Harambee star midfielder Noah Abich compared Olunga with Erling Haaland from Norway and Manchester City. “In the world of football today, Olunga can only be compared with Erling (Haaland),” Abich told FlashScore.
He continued: “One thing about Olunga, he doesn't miss 50/50 chances, the second thing, he knows the right time to enter the opponent's box, he knows how to study the opposite defenders, he can leave you stranded if you are not careful. He is a player who can score goals for fun.”
Abich concluded: “He is a gifted player, he can score with both legs, his favorite leg is the left, but even the right one he can still score with the use. He scored with the right leg against Gabon here in Nairobi. He is a quality player and I wish him well in his next destination.”
After Djurgarden, Olunga moved to China, where he signed for Guizhou Zhicheng, but they lent him to Girona, before he left for the Japanese outfit Kashiwa Reysol in 2018. In Kashiwa he scored eight goals in a 13-1 win over Kyoto Sanga.
Olunga closed the season with 27 league goals when Kashiwa ended the J2 season as champions and won promotion to the first division. He scored a hat trick against Vegalta Sendai; The match ended in a 5-1 win during their first match in J1 League in 2020.
He went on to finish as a top scorer in the 2020 Japanese J1 League campaign with 28 goals, winning the Golden Boot and the J-League 2020 MVP and became the first African player to win the J-League MVP Award.
Kenyans will wait with held breath to see the next step of their captain of the national team, whose first goal for Harambee stars came a 2-0 friendly victory against South Sudan.
Dennis Mabukaflash score News