Red-hot Gor Mahia striker Benson Omalla has vowed to claim the bragging rights for the most goals scored in a single Kenyan Premier League season.
With 25 goals already in the bag thus far, Omalla is well on course of surpassing an earlier record set by former K'Ogalo ace Maurice Ochieng who blasted the back of the net 25 times to propel the record Kenyan champions to the title in 1979.
After 26 matches, Omalla's statistics average one goal per game, and the 21-year-old clinical finisher has pledged to leverage the remaining seven encounters left on the card to wrap up the season in style.
His latest vintage performance was on Wednesday when he struck twice to help his team to a hard-fought win over competition minnows Talanta in a rain-drenched thriller at Moi Stadium, Kasarani.
"The record is there to be broken and I'm only a goal shy to achieve that feat. I want to assure Gor Mahia fans that I will be delivering the Golden Boot this season," Omalla said.
"As a striker, my main job is to score and ensure the team collects three points from every match. That's what the club hired me to do. I look forward to scoring more goals as the league continues," he added.
The Kisumu Day High School alumnus has sent a passionate plea to Gor Mahia fans to rally behind the traditional giants as they close in on their record 20th title this season.
He believes they have already done the donkey work and what remains is to finish the job. "I'm urging our fans to start turning out in large numbers so that they can give us the push we need to get the job done. It's been long since we won the title and so I believe everybody at the club wants to get hold of the title this season. That's very important for us, for our fans, and the club's management."
While acknowledging that the club could be under the pump with defending champions Tusker hot on their heels, Omalla said they are not quaking in the boots.
Only two points separate the two top-flight behemoths at the summit of the log. "At Gor Mahia, we are taking one game at a time. We have around seven matches left to conclude the season and we'll do our best to win all our remaining fixtures."
Omalla's closest challenger in the Golden Boot race is Harambee Stars and Kenya Police experienced forward Elvis Rupia who has celebrated 16 goals this season.
Although Rupia's hopes of catching up with Omalla already appear remote, he has a chance to claim a slot in the Hall of Fame.
Former Kariobangi Sharks talisman Eric Kapaito is ranked the second-highest top scorer after netting 24 goals that catapulted him to the Most Valuable Player gong during the 2019/2020 KPL season. Allan Wanga (23), Jesse Were (22) and Boniface Ambani (21) complete the roster in that order.
