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Omala had gone on a run of 4 consecutive games without a win before his brace against Bandari.
Benson Omala finally ended his four-game barren run without finding the back of the net with a brace against Bandari FC. Given his consistency, fans and the media alike, had started to worry about the patchy run.
In this article, an analysis is made as to why he went through that bad run of form. Did the arrival of Patrick Kaddu affect him? Was he just unlucky? Did his snub from the national team affect him?
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17:27 - 12.04.2023
FOOTBALL Omala’s brace guides Gor Mahia past a spirited Bandari
After a goalless first half, the second half was an end-to-end affair, and three goals were registered.
On Monday 23 January, Gor Mahia confirmed the signing of Ugandan striker Patrick Kaddu from second tier outfit Kitara FC, with the striker on red-hot form, scoring 15 goals in 15 league games for the side.
The move would see the hitman reunite with his former international coach, Jonathan McKinstry at K’Ogalo. Eyebrows on the move were raised, however, especially considering Gor Mahia happen to already possess another natural goal-scoring machine in Benson Omala.
Omala currently leads the goalscoring charts in the FKF Premier League with 21 goals. He was virtually unstoppable heading into the international break, where he made Harambee Stars head coach, Engin Firat’s preliminary squad in the build-up to the friendly match against Iran, but failed to make the final cut.
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09:00 - 12.04.2023
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After that, Gor Mahia played three Premier League games, beating Vihiga Bullets 5-0 (a game where Kaddu netted a hat-trick on his debut), registering a barren draw against Sofapaka, and beating Kariobangi Sharks 2-0. In those three games, Omala has failed to find the back of the net but failed to start against Bullets.
In that period, Gor Mahia also took part in the round of 16 of the Mozzartbet Cup. Goe Mahia were knocked out of the competition by Kakamega Homeboyz, with Omala failing to find the back of the net.
Various questions were raised, especially considering Omala’s consistency in front of goal this season.
“It would be definite if he was not getting the chances,” said coach McKinstry, “He is getting into the right positions against Vihiga, he could have scored two or three goals. Against Sofapaka, he hit the post,” he added.
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12:58 - 25.03.2023
FOOTBALL Firat explains reason for axing Benson Omala from Harambee Stars squad
Omala will not travel with the team to face Iran in Tehran.
“That is what it is like being a striker. Sometimes that happens and you do not get the luck. He is doing everything we are asking him to do otherwise and we are winning football matches, which is the most important thing.”
Let us take a look at all three Premier League games in which he failed to find the net. In the game against Vihiga Bullets, he could have had two or three goals off the bench, but had he been psychologically affected by the instant impact of Patrick Kaddu, a classic 'poacher' not too dissimilar to Omala in terms of his playing style had made?
Omala and Kaddu played together from the 60th minute, but the chances he missed were atypical of his instinctive natural finishing we have seen from him. Kaddu still managed to add a third goal.
Next up was the game against Sofapaka. A game where McKinstry opted to start Omala and Kaddu together. You may say that the pair understandably struggled to forge a partnership given it was the first time they were starting together.
Even so, their attack appeared lopsided, considering that Omala was barely creating space for Kaddu to make runs off him as a second striker.
Both tried occupying the same zones and the Gor Mahia setup was about trying to whip crosses to Omala they could get on the back of as soon as possible. McKinstry however, insists that the two can still form a formidable partnership and continue scoring without affecting each other.
“They are getting on the end of chances. They were unfortunate not to score today. Both of them have done really well. They are goal scorers. The goals will come.”
Against Kariobangi Sharks, McKinstry decided to revert to a lone striker system with Omala back in the starting lineup, citing a lack of full-match sharpness for Kaddu and wanting to get the players with momentum back for efficiency purposes.
“Playing three games a week basically is really tough on the body. The guys who have been with us from the start of the season are more accustomed to the robustness of it. We have to be super careful with them and not overload them.”
“We know they can play together (Omala and Kaddu). Omala had good chances today. There was the one where he was offside and the keeper made a world class save and another that flashed past the post.
“You guys (the media) were asking me if I was worried about Omala being the only goalscorer. Now it is the other guys scoring the goals.
“Benson is the first person to tell you that he will happily play a supporting role as long as the team wins. It is all about the team.”
Gor may need a larger scope of games to determine if Omala’s run without finding the back of the net will come back. As it stands through, the fans should not worry. As his games against Bandari suggest, he was just unlucky.
Gor will need his goals to try and help them retain the Premier League title for the first time in 3 years in order to stand a chance of qualifying for the CAF Champions League.
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