Omala has yet to kick a ball for Gor Mahia since it was reported he was signing back for K'Ogalo in February.
Gor Mahia head coach Sinisa Mihic has voiced his frustration over his team’s lack of efficiency in the final third, citing the absence of star striker Benson Omala as a major setback.
Omala, who topped the scoring charts in the 2023/24 FKF Premier League with 19 goals, had departed for Lebanese outfit Safa SC.
However, his stint was short-lived due to a strained relationship with the club over unpaid wages and security concerns in the region, ultimately leading to the termination of his contract.
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While the striker has since returned to Kenya, his availability for upcoming matches remains in limbo as Gor Mahia awaits the clearance of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
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His return has sparked excitement among fans, but Mihic is growing impatient, knowing how crucial Omala’s presence could be in the team’s title chase.
Mihic, who opted to start Gedeon Bendeka upfront in their 0-0 draw against AFC Leopards on Sunday, was left exasperated by his side’s wastefulness in front of goal.
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“This team is missing players like Omala. A real striker who will score easily and not miss so many chances,” Mihic lamented after the match.
“This is a problem I found, but that is why I am here. The team was struggling before I came, so we need to be stable and make sure we do not concede goals, and then change things to start scoring.”
While acknowledging AFC Leopards’ quality, Mihic believes his side was superior but undone by poor decision-making.
“They are also a good team, but I think we are better. However, I was not happy with the behavior of some players because they looked like they were panicking.
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“In the second half, we improved—winning second balls and looking dangerous in transition—but we were poor in the final third,” he observed.
Mihic didn’t just criticise Gor Mahia’s inefficiency; he expressed concern over a broader trend in Kenyan football.
“Finishing is a problem across the league. I have said before that most goals here come from free kicks and corner kicks. You rarely see goals from combination play,” he noted.
“Today, you saw in the final third how players were missing chances, including one I won’t mention (Sharrif Musa) who missed from three yards out.”
Despite the missed opportunities, Mihic took time to praise Austin Odhiambo, who made a return to the team as a substitute in the derby.
“Finishing is a problem because players hurry a lot. There aren’t too many players like Austin who are calm and collected,” he said.
“That is why clubs around the world spend 100 million on strikers and wingers.”
As Gor Mahia looks to resolve Omala’s paperwork, Mihic will be hoping for an immediate solution to his side’s attacking woes to keep their title ambitions alive.