Gor Mahia striker Benson Omala’s anticipated transfer to Algerian club JS Sauora has fallen through, marking a disappointing conclusion to the month-long saga.
The move of Gor Mahia’s striker Benson Omala to Algeria is off the table after a last-minute breakdown in the transfer process. Omala had received clearance to join Algerian club JS Sauora on a six-month loan, but this will no longer occur due to a lack of available foreign player slots at the North African club.
It’s believed that the Algerian team shifted their focus to a different player, a Cameroonian forward, after the clearance from Gor Mahia was delayed. As a result, Omala will remain at K’Ogalo until the end of the season, when a potential transfer might be reconsidered.
This outcome is a letdown for Omala, who had previously been linked with another Algerian club, USM Alger, last month before JS Sauora solidified their offer. Gor Mahia was set to receive Ksh3.2 million from the loan deal, while Omala was to be paid a monthly salary of Ksh1.3 million, with the possibility of the move becoming permanent. The proposed deal included housing, a personal car, medical insurance, match bonuses, and a net salary of $8,000 per month for the player.
However, JS Sauora had stipulated stringent conditions for the transfer, requiring compliance from both the player and his parent club before its completion. These conditions included the suspension of the employment contract between Omala and Gor Mahia for the loan’s duration, with JS Sauora agreeing to pay the loan compensation only after receiving the Transfer Matching System (TMS) and conducting the player’s physical and medical examinations.
While this is a setback for Omala, Gor Mahia fans will be relieved to have their star player available, at least until the season’s end, to help lead the team to another league title. Omala currently stands as the top scorer in the FKF Premier League, having netted nine goals so far.
