Time for Gor’s Omala to prove mettle after another Harambee Stars call-up
Harambee Stars Coach Engin Firat seems to have heeded to demands by fans to summon deserving players in the national team ahead of the Four Nations Tournament scheduled for Mauritius on June 11-18.
The Turkish tactician was admonished by fans after dropping Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League scoring machine Benson Omala of Gor Mahia during a friendly match against Iran in Tehran last March, only saying being a leading goal scorer in a local league could not guarantee him a place in the national team. The former Kisumu Day High School alumnus is one of a kind and seemingly scores for fun. Omala has talent, style and exquisite touch of the ball and its little wonder that he has plundered the highest number of goals in the 2022/2023 season at 25 so far, only coming one shy of the ones netted by Maurice “Sonyi” Ochieng’ while turning for Gor in 1976.
But come to think of it: ”If Farat was sincere in his argument that club form does not necessarily translate to that of the national team, why then did he make an about-turn by giving Omala an invite in the team?
Was Omala not good enough in the eyes of Firat when Stars were gearing up for the friendly against Iran?
Many were of the view that the decision to drop him was tantamount to an insult to Kenyan football.
Gor and Harambee Stars legend Allan Thigo even blasted Firat for overlooking such a free-scoring striker in the Stars squad, saying that if he was Omala, he would reject future national team call-ups on grounds that his pedigree has been downgraded.
But whether it was a case of disrespect by Firat towards deserving national team players is neither here nor there but another thing which he did right was to call up fast-rising Kakamega Homeboyz striker Moses Shummah for the assignment.
A fleet-footed striker, Shummah did prove that he is a national team material when he turned AFC Leopards defence almost inside-out during the Mozzart Bet Cup semifinal match at Nyayo National Stadium last week and would even go ahead to net one of the two goals which saw Abana Abeingo prevail 2-1 over Ingwe to storm the final.
Another deserving case in the Stars line-up is adventurous Gor Mahia midfielder Boniface Omondi who has the ability to score from half chances.
The list is incomplete without mention of dazzling defenders Mohammed Siraj and Kevin Otiala of Bandari and Kariobangi Sharks respectively and who have formed almost an impenetrable backline while turning out for their teams in the league front.
But all in all, the 30-man provisional squad named by Firat comprises a perfect blend of talented local-based players and seasoned foreign-based legion who have the ability to impress Firat as he gauges the team for the World Cup qualifying matches.
