Gor Mahia striker Benson Omala may not be as popular as some of his counterparts in the region but he sits top of the tree on the scorer’s list in East Africa.
Omala is enjoying a great campaign with K’Ogalo who are just two wins away from bagging a record-extending 20th Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) title as they enjoy a two-point lead over Tusker FC with as many games remaining.
Gor were handed a huge advantage when Tusker lost 2-1 away to Wazito last weekend while they won 2-0 against Ulinzi Stars to assume the league leadership.
Benson Omala (Gor Mahia) -25 goals
Even though he was not on target on Sunday, Gor would perhaps not have been top were it not for Omala who leads the Kenyan top flight’s Golden Boot race, having scored 25 goals from 32 games.
The 21-year-old is a goal ahead of his closest challenger Elvis Rupia of Kenya Police and just one shy of equaling the league record of 26 set by K’Ogalo legend Maurice ‘Sonyi’ Ochieng in 1976.
Omala could have been out of reach by now had he not gone through a five-match goal drought having failed to score past Mathare United, AFC Leopards, Wazito FC, Tusker and Ulinzi since netting a brace in Gor’s 2-1 win against FC Talanta on April 29.
He also missed a penalty in the Mashemeji Derby against AFC Leopards but he has an opportunity to increase his tally in the final two games as Gor takes on Kakamega Homeboyz before squaring it off with Nairobi City Stars in the season finale.
Omala’s tally, however, dwarfs what the rest in the region have managed this season with Congolese striker Fiston Mayele the top scorer in the Tanzanian Premier League having bagged 16 goals.
The Yanga hitman is one of the most in-demand strikers currently on the continent with his goals helping Timu ya Wananchi to a second straight league crown but even he has not managed more than Omala.
Mayele is one goal ahead of Burundian Saidi Ntibazonkiza of Simba, both strikers managing their tally in 29 games, with the Tanzanian top flight still with one match left to play.
Omala, therefore, needs to find his scoring boots against Homeboyz and City Stars if he has to complete the season as not just the top scorer in Kenya but East Africa as well.