Gor schoolboy Omala’s balancing act between books and KPL games
Kisumu Day and Western Stima's Benson Omala lifts his trophy on January 29, 2020 after he was named the Kenyan Premier League Player of the Month for December 2019 at Kisumu Day.
What you need to know:
- The form four student at Kisumu Day Secondary School signed a five-year contract with Gor on Tuesday.
- He joins from Western Stima as the 18-time league champions continue to reinforce their squad for the next season.
New Gor Mahia schoolboy striker Benson Omala says coach Steven Polack will draw a parallel training programme for him when the Kenyan Premier League matches resumes.
The form four student at Kisumu Day Secondary School signed a five-year contract with Gor on Tuesday, moving from Western Stima as the 18-time league champions continue to reinforce their squad for the next season.
The teenager faces a tight balancing act between his studies and league matches, especially since Gor has its base in Nairobi.
Kisumu Day and Western Stima striker Benson Omala receives the December Player of the Month trophy from LG East Africa Digital Marketing Manager Hiram Macharia on January 29, 2020.
The 17-year-old attacker had an easy time playing for Western Stima because the club has its base in the lakeside city and hosted its matches at Kisumu’s Moi Stadium, which is just a short distance from his school.
Though Omala agrees it will be a big challenge, he is determined to work hard in class and replicate the performance he had at Western Stima with Gor in KPL.
"I am determined to achieve a lot with my team and at the same time excel in my studies. The coach will draw a programme for me so that I can also do the same things as other players who will be training in Nairobi," he said. "We will also arrange on how I can feature in the league games, including travelling logistics.
"I am really hopeful everything will go well so that I can feature in as many KPL matches as possible and replicate my performance by scoring many goals for K'Ogalo. It is a dream come true to play for this team," he added.
Omala was in sparkling form for Stima last season, netting nine league goals before the season was prematurely halted due to coronavirus.
The former Manyatta United striker became the youngest player to win the KPL Player of the Month Award when he was crowned the best for the month of December 2019.
However, Omala wouldn't be the first student to feature in the league while at the same time in school.
AFC Leopards legends Peter Lichungu, Micky Weche and Mike Amwayi turned out for the now defunct Motcom FC while studying at Kakamega High School. In 1981, the trio played in the Kenyan Secondary School Games while they were still at Motcom.
The late Hamisi Shamba and Hamisi Gideon also played for Kisumu Hot Stars while studying at Kisumu Day High School.
Nahason Oluoch Lule and Peter 'Pierre' Ochieng' also played for Gor Mahia from 1978-1981 while at Highway High School in Nairobi.
