Gor Mahia head coach Johnathan McKinstry says striker Benson Omalla is part of his plans this season and will stay at K’Ogalo despite reports of his departure to Algerian top league side, USM Alger.
The Northern Irish man, who’s seeking a back-to-back Football Kenya premier (FKF) Kenya Premier League title win with KO’galo, affirmed that they haven’t had any contact from the North African giants USM Alger nor have they tabled any offer.
This follows rumours of Omalla’s imminent departure to Algiers on a mouthwatering $100,000 (Ksh 15.9 million) move and a $20,000 (Sh3,102,190) monthly salary.
“Everything you read about him online is fake news. Some journalists and bloggers are using it to get more traffic to their sites. Omalla has two years left on his contract and has no release clause,” McKinstry clarified.
McKinstry revealed that the Kenyan international is valued much higher than the quoted figures the club supposedly wanted to buy him.
He further confirmed that Ugandan international Rodgers Mugisha is on his way to a Danish Division One side, AS Horsens on an undisclosed transfer fee, with talks complete and awaiting traveling paperwork.
Omalla 22, finished second in the top scorers list last season with 26 goals—just one behind Elvis Rupia, and currently leads the charts with nine goals from 17 games. He was previously linked with a move to South African side, Kaizer Chiefs, but the deal never materialized.
“Football is business and when the right deal comes, we can never stand in any player’s way. That’s why Mugisha, whose contract expires in February, is set to leave with our blessings,” the tactician noted.
K’Ogalo have previously done good business in the transfer window with Godfrey Walusimbi moving to Kaizer Chiefs on a Sh37.3 million (4.4 million rands) while Jacques Tuyisenge switched to the Angolan side, Petro de Luanda, for Sh15 million.
Ahead of the clash with title rivals Tusker on Saturday, McKinstry confirmed they were eyeing two more players in the January transfer window after signing Shariff Musa from Bidco United.
“Tusker have been a hard nut to crack and we expect a tough battle with the brewers who are on a six-match winning streak,” concluded McKinstry.
