Tanzanian giants Simba SC and Azam FC have reportedly pulled out of the race to sign Benson Omala from Gor Mahia.
Interest in Omala is expected to intensify in the upcoming transfer window given the performance he had in the just concluded Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) season.
The Kisumu Day alumnus scored 26 goals for the champions and lost the Golden Boot – to Kenya Police’s Elvis Rupia – by a small margin. The striker has been linked with a number of clubs, including Yanga SC and Premier Soccer League outfit, Orlando Pirates.
Simba and their Chamazi-based rivals have pulled out of the race to sign Omala given the amount of money that Gor Mahia are reportedly asking for.
The Kenyan champions are said to be willing to let the 22-year-old leave only if suitors will pay a transfer fee of Ksh20 million.
Simba’s interest in Omala is understood given that they are in the rebuilding process after missing titles in the last two seasons. Yanga dominated the Tanzanian football arena after defending both the Premier League and the domestic cup titles.
Timu ya Wananchi were powered to success, especially by the lethal Fiston Mayele, who ended the season as the top scorer. On the attacking front, Simba were blunt, and head coach Roberto ‘Robertinho’ Oliveira is expected to prioritize the signing of an attacker.
John Bocco has not been a reliable striker given that he has had to deal with injuries, especially in the last two seasons. Since Meddie Kagere left and signed for Singida Big Stars, Wekundu wa Msimbazi have struggled to find an equally capable replacement.
On the other hand, Azam are also in the rebuilding process after failing to record success in recent seasons. The Ice Cream Makers last lifted the league title in 2016, and their aim of breaking the Simba-Yanga dominance will force them to sign high-profile players, and Omala is one of them.
For the past two seasons, they have been overly dependent on Zimbabwe international Prince Dube, who will need a competitor to make their attacking department more lethal.
