Uncertainty as mercurial striker Benson Omala remains clubless
A number of clubs, including some from southern and northern Africa, are said to be interested in his services.

Striker Benson Omala’s controversial move to the Lebanese top flight league late last year was met with anger and shock by most of his fans.
Interestingly, the Ex-Gor Mahia FC lethal forward has lately been training with local teams at home instead of featuring for a serious club in a known competition. This has made many question his handlers imagination. It now emerges that the Harambee Stars capped player has not been registered with the Middle-East club for this season.
At the moment, the 23-year-old former Western Stima goal-getter is unattached but a number of clubs, including some from southern and northern Africa, are said to be interested in his services. However, the million dollar question which remains unclear is the current status of the player and is he still in the books of Al Safa FC?
Experts argue that there is fault with the aspect of due diligence which has exposed Omalla to uncertainty with his career.
Former Club CEO Lodvick Aduda has questioned the rationale of K’Ogalo letting go their prized asset without proper back-up.
“Firstly, the club has to take blame for the issues affecting the striker now. They knew he had a running contract but allowed somebody to lure Benson to some unknown league. They needed to advise him accordingly before that drastic move. At the same time, he engaged with an outside agent who orchestrated the bad transfer to a war torn country,” he said.
This problem broadly points out our football is mismanaged which essentially points to the fact that we have people who do not understand how sports business works. Now the boy just plays a regional league at his home without any benefit or relevance which is crazy.”
Aduda adds: “We have so many suspicious people masquerading as agents whereby it misleads our players but still it is no excuse. These fellows must learn to pursue due diligence. Under the FIFA laws, a player who is still under contract is under protection from abuse and so the idea that Benson was approached for a deal is wrong. It now paints the club and the player in bad light.”
“At the same time, the home Federation must ensure that players and clubs are aware of agents accredited and certified to operate in the country. Now this issue has made the player virtually clubless as his nor registered at his club and therefore cannot play and that is why he is home. He cannot be picked for national duties because he is not active in any known competition plus he is unattached.”
Sports lawyer Elvis Majani contends that by virtue of the fact the player still has a contract yet is not registered for this season is like a double-edged sword for Omalla. “This is an intricate and dicey situation because nobody has fired the player yet he is not registered to play this coming season.
Unless there is some hindrance, Omalla can always ask for a loan move to get playing minutes. However, if the club refuses to release him then that is problematic and of course because of the 10% play rule that falls under Article 15 of FIFA Statutes, he can always escalate the matter to another level. The player has the right to play and grow his brand so he has to seek solutions to that effect. However, agents must always advise their players adequately so that they do not suffer consequences. Issues around insubordination or forfeiture are serious and hopefully Omalla is not going to fall prey,” he says.
Lawyer Jerry Gitonga, on his part, urged for all parties to obey contractual obligations.
“As per reports, he is out of the squad list and, therefore, out of the team but that does not mean he is out of a job. If he has to move, he will need permission from his parent club to go. He is currently at home and not really playing actively and this hurts his brand. In my view, all parties have to follow laid down rules. In my view, all this issues because it touches on a local player should explicitly be dealt under the Sports Act,” Gitonga said.
“For instance, the Sports Act and Sports Registrar should have compliance regulations for operators like agents to fulfill so that there is oversight. The Football Association must also be aware of all that happens within its territory with regard to player movements,” he added.