Gor Mahia forward Benson Omalla (right) controls the ball under pressure Nairobi City Stars defender Rowland Makati during their Football Kenya Federation Premier League match at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos County on February 17, 2024.
Harambee Stars forward Benson Omala has now taken his dispute with Lebanese top league club Al Safa to world football governing body, Fifa as he battles to officially re-sign for Gor Mahia.
Omala, 23, has been out of competitive football for eight months since leaving Lebanon over safety concerns in September.
He has been training with Gor Mahia since January but cannot formally join them and play in the FKF Premier League because Al Safa have not facilitated the issuing of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
His father, Peter Oluoch said yesterday that Al Safa have refused to release Omala despite a formal request and the issue is now with Fifa’s Dispute Resolution Chamber which will determine the way forward.
“His agent (Chris Oluoch) has been engaging the club but they have refused to release him,” said Oluoch.
He revealed that Al Safa are insisting that the striker honours his contract and sees through the one-year agreement.
“Personally I can’t allow my son to go back there due to the security situation. They are also not paying him,” he said.
Nation Sport has reliably learnt that the Kenya striker terminated his contract with the Lebanese outfit in December over non-payment of salary and his lack of work.
“I don’t know why they are adamant yet the security situation was not his mistake. The engagements are going on and now that the issue is with Fifa, I hope for a positive outcome so that he can get back to football,” said Omala’s father
“They wouldn’t force my son back to that war torn country,” he said.
Omala joined Al Safa on August 12, last year on a contract that offered him three times what he was earning at Gor Mahia.
He has, however, never played for Al Safa since their league was suspended on September 25 after Israel attacked Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
He only trained with the team for two weeks before he came back to Kenya due to the security situation.
The Lebanese Premier League resumed on January 25, after a ceasefire deal between Hezbollah and Israel, but the want away Omala did not return.
Al Safa are second in the 12-team league with 29 points from 11 matches.
Omala informally rejoined Gor Mahia during the January transfer window and has been training with the team since then.
“I don’t understand why the club is clinging on Omala. They have not been paying him salaries yet they insist on him serving his contract,” said Gor Mahia Secretary General Sam Ochola.
“We have taken the issue to the federation and now it is with Fifa We are confident there will be a solution and Al Safa will abandon their hard stance,” he added.
After their 'Mashemeji' derby clash with AFC Leopards last weekend, Gor Mahia coach Sinisa Mihic bemoaned lack of clinical finishers in his side admitting he is frustrated that he can’t play Omala.
“We need a distinguished player like Omala, a real striker who scores easily and doesn’t miss many chances but there is a problem with him which is above me. I can’t field him,” said the 47-year-old Croatian.
With 10 games to the end of the season Mihic believes Omala’s return can inject pace on their 2025 title race.
