After a four-and-a-half year spell in Qatar, the Red Knights confirmed through a touching video posted on social media, celebrating the many memories he had created since joining in January 2021, that Olunga was finally leaving the club.
The video was accompanied by a statement, which read in part: “The management of Al-Duhail Spors Club extends its gratitude and appreciation to Kenyan striker Michael Olunga, the club’s historical goal scorer for what he has given outstanding contribution and exceptional performance during his career with the first team.”
The statement continued: “Olunga has been an example of professionalism and discipline on and off the pitch, he has contributed significantly to the club’s many achievements and championships, and has also left a clear mark on the club’s history through his decisive goals and contributions.
“The Al-Duhail Club family wishes Michael Olunga all the best in his next stop and assures the club’s doors will remain open to the historic flood scorer. Thank you Olunga. You will always be an integral part of the Duhail family.”
Olunga leaves Al Duhail SC as the all-time top scorerAl Duhail SC Media
In his response, the former Gor Mahia striker, who left Duhail being the all-time top scorer with 130 goals in all competitions said: “First of all I would like to thank the management of the club, starting with the President of the club, the vice-President of the club, the backroom support staff that have really shown great faith in me, since I arrived here.
“I want to say thank you to the coaches that I have worked with, I want to say thank you to the players, that we have shared with the dressing room and the good moments we had together.”
Olunga added: “I want to say thank you to all the subordinate staff, who have really helped us, the medical team that have been with us throughout the time I have been here. It has been a really good four and half seasons since I came here, they have really shown me love.
“I have really enjoyed my time here at Al Duhail, it has been a good journey, and all in all I have enjoyed my time in this beautiful club. I leave Duhail with my head held high and proud of my achievements with the great club, and now wait to see what the future holds.”
Olunga moved to the then-champions Al-Duhail on a three-season contract for a reported transfer fee of €6 million on January 2021, and his impact was felt immediately after he finished the season with six goals in nine appearances.
He made his debut for the club, in a 3-1 away defeat 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 the top scorer of the 2021 AFC Champions League, but Al-Duhail crashed out of the competition after a 1-1 draw with Al Ahli Saudi.
In his second full season at Duhail, Olunga emerged the league’s top scorer after notching 24 goals from 20 appearances. In the 2022/23 season, Olunga bagged 22 goals from 22 appearances while in 2023/24, he scored 15 goals from 18 matches.
Last season, Olunga finished with 12 goals, and two assists from 19 appearances and his contribution was not good enough to help Duhail retain the league title as they were beaten to the crown by Al Sadd, who finished the season top with 52 points, while Duhail came second with 50 points.
Olunga's recent statsFlashscore
Olunga should shift focus on European return
According to Onsika, Olunga’s qualities deserve a European return for the player, who began his football journey with Liberty Sports Academy in the Nairobi County League, where he scored 32 goals for the side during the 2012 season, helping them finish the season unbeaten and earn promotion to the Nairobi Provincial League.
Throughout his career, Olunga’s only Europe stint was a one-year loan deal to LaLiga side Girona FC in 2018 from Chinese outfit Guizhou Zhicheng. He made his LaLiga debut against Las Palmas scoring a hat-trick in the span of 22 minutes during a 6-0 win, becoming both the first Kenyan player and the first Girona player to score a hat-trick in LaLiga.
“Olunga should now look beyond Asia and the Middle East and put focus on playing his remaining career in Europe,” Onsika told Flashscore. “We have seen what Olunga can do on a good day, we have seen what qualities Olunga can bring into any team, and it is the reason I am urging his agent to try to get him a top-quality team in Europe.
“Olunga deserves to play in the Premier League, he played in Spain, but slid back to return to Qatar, during his loan spell with Girona, he had the best opportunity to get into another big club in LaLiga or even move to any other top five leagues in Europe, but he opted otherwise, now he should consider going back to Europe.
‘Preferably, he should knock on the doors of Premier League teams, he can fit in very well in teams such as Arsenal, Newcastle United, or even Everton. Olunga can be a deadly striker if he plays in the Premier League, he is good with aerial balls, he can dribble, he has a very powerful left foot, and I have never seen him miss a penalty.”
Olunga in actionAl Duhail SC Media
Onsika continued: “I don’t see any reason why teams in Europe should shy away from signing Olunga, given his finishing talent, look at what he has achieved in Qatar. Just a four-year stay and he leaves having scored 130 goals, he is a scoring machine for sure, and a very disciplined player, he is rarely booked, and he rarely argues with referees’, I pray and hope that he will end up in Europe in his next move.”
Having played for several clubs in the Kenyan Premier League, including Tusker, Thika United, and Gor Mahia, where he finished the 2015 season as the club’s top scorer in the league with 19 goals to help the side win a record 15th league title without losing a single match, Olunga ventured in Europe with his first club being Swedish side Djurgardens IF.
He signed a four-year deal after joining the team’s pre-season training camp on trial and scored his first two goals for Djurgarden in 2016 against IFK Goteborg in a 3-1 win. He was also named man of the match, and the then Djurgarden coach Mark Dempsey praised him for his match-winning heroics.
Olunga can be likened to Erling Haaland
Former Harambee Stars midfielder Noah Abich likened Olunga to Erling Haaland of Norway and Manchester City. “In the world of football today, Olunga can only be compared to Erling (Haaland),” Abich told Flashscore.
He continued: “One thing about Olunga, he doesn’t miss 50/50 chances, second thing, he knows the right time to enter the opponents’ box, he knows how to study the opposing defenders, he can leave you stranded if you aren’t careful. He is one player, who can score goals for fun if not covered well.”
Abich concluded: “He is a gifted player, he can score with both legs, his preferred leg is the left one, but even the right one he can still score using it. Against Gabon here in Nairobi, he scored using the right leg. 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 loaned him out to Girona, before he left to sign for Japanese outfit Kashiwa Reysol in 2018. At Kashiwa in 2019, he scored eight goals in a 13-1 victory over Kyoto Sanga.
Olunga finished the season with 27 league goals as Kashiwa finished the J2 season as champions and won promotion to the first division. He scored a hat-trick against Vegalta Sendai; the match finished in a 5-1 victory during their first match in J1 League in 2020.
He went ahead to finish as the top scorer in the 2020 Japanese J1 League campaign with 28 goals, winning the Golden Boot and the J-League 2020 MVP, and in the process becoming the first African player to win the J-league MVP award.
Kenyans will be waiting with bated breath to see the next move from their national team captain, whose first goal for Harambee Stars came in a 2-0 friendly win against South Sudan.
Dennis MabukaFlashscore News