Benson Omala: Why ex-Gor Mahia striker has been dropped by Lebanese club

Former Gor Mahia striker Benson Omala will not be part of Lebanese side Al-Safa anymore following a disagreement between the player and the club.

Omala was not among the forwards unveiled by the club ahead of the resumption of the league, which had been last September due to the war in the country, raising questions over his future at Al-Safa.

Now, it has emerged that the club and player have severed ties after terms of the deal were not met.

“He signed a contract but they have not paid the boy for six months and so we are waiting to terminate it,” a source close to Omala told when asked why the player was not included in the squad.

Former Gor Mahia striker Benson Omala faces an extended period without playing after the Lebanese league was suspended due to worsening security situation in the country.

Omala’s transfer to Lebanon ran into headwinds from the very beginning, after the player opted to ditch Gor Mahia for paid ranks abroad, as soon after he had agreed to switch to Lebanon in August, he was back in Kenya a few weeks later.

It emerged that Al-Safa had him the agreed signing-on fee and the striker stood his ground, refusing to return to Lebanon until he was paid.

However, after the issue was resolved and he was about to return, the league was suspended due to the worsening security situation after Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, sparking fears of escalating conflict.

Calm has now returned and the Lebanese Football Association okayed the league to resume but Omala will play no part as Al-Safa take on Reyady Abaseya on Sunday.

Omala has been training with Division Two side United to maintain his fitness since the league was suspended and there has been talk that he could make a sensational return to Gor Mahia in the midseason transfer window but his handlers appear not to be keen on this route.

“We want him to go back abroad because here in Kenya, things are not okay,” added the source.

With his predicament and the stance on signing for a Kenyan club, it remains to be seen how Omala will navigate this challenging phase of his career, given he was a coveted player for Gor Mahia, having scored 45 goals in two seasons.