Gor Mahia midfielder John Ochieng has reportedly been invited for trials by Valeo Nazare Futebol Sad in Portugal.
The European side is keen to put the former Chemelil Sugar star through trials to see whether he can be roped into the team’s setup for a longer period.
The midfielder, who did not manage regular minutes last season for the Football Kenya Federation Premier League champions, signed for K’Ogalo in 2022 from the Sugar Millers.
He has now been given a chance to try his best in Portugal, with the door slightly open for him to make a permanent move. Reports indicate that he will be on probation for three months, and after that period, he will know his fate.
Some clubs, just like other employers, assess their potential new signings through a probationary period and then decide whether to keep them based on their capabilities.
He is set to follow in the footsteps of Benson Omala, who had a short stint in Belgium before he returned. The former Western Stima striker sealed a six-month loan deal to play for Swedish Division One side FC Linkoping City before he returned to Kenya in December 2021.
Despite the struggle in Scandinavia, Omala came back and conquered the Premier League last season by lifting the title with Gor Mahia. He was the club’s top scorer and was beaten to the Golden Boot award by a goal by Elvis Rupia of Police FC.
Ochieng’s reported exit comes at a time when Kevin Juma’s move from Nzoia Sugar to Gor Mahia has been confirmed. With the additional demands of next season, Gor Mahia are expected to remain busy in the transfer market.
