The joy of any footballer is to establish himself strongly and very quickly when signed by any team.

The Name Michael Olunga resonates very well with so many fans not only in Kenya but across the border too, but alot of the die hard Gor Mahia fans do not know the man they call the Engineer  almost left the club when the season started in 2015  if not for the chairman Ambrose Rachier who remained adamant stifling any move to drop the lanky player.

Michael Olunga’s arrival at Kogalo was without much fan fair as he came in silently after a Lukewarm season at Tusker that cannot be described as “brilliant”.

However upon his arrival the player was almost dejected as he failed to to meet the “standards” of coach Frank Nuttal who did not hide his displeasure at the signing of the player whom he described as slow and average.

Matters got even worse in training as the young Olunga was openly rejected by Nuttal who even requested the management to immediately offload him for a better player but chairman Ambrose Rachier saved the situation adamantly refusing to heed Nuttal’s call to dismiss the player.

The sweet thing about the whole story is that the Engineer never let this episode get to his mind and heart or even cloud his judgement as  he humbly took the challenge by his stride like a wounded soldier who was ready to prove himself.

The rest is history 7 months down the line Michael Olunga is one of the most important players at Got Mahia having scored 15 goals in the league and 5 goals at the Cecafa Kagame Cup to catapult him to one of the best strikers not only on Kenya but East Africa.

Olunga has become Nuttal’s key man upfront giving him the goals as the tactician realized how he would have lost a colossus.

Olunga has become the focal point on which football joy and exquisite brilliance is channelled through as he holds the ball with his left foot like a man caressing a beautiful lady to score some beautiful goals this season.

He makes coach Frank Nuttal smile whenever he touches the ball unlike the days that he made him frown.

“God is good I would  have lost a great player” the words that could be ringing in Nuttal’s mind when he sees Olunga.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com