Boniface Omondi leaves for Wazito
Striker Boniface Omondi, scorer of several crucial goals including the last mashemeji derby winner, has left for Wazito
Additional reporting from the Nation
Boniface Omondi has officially joined money bags Wazito on a three-year contract.
Omondi’s contract had come to an end at K’Ogalo in June and the lethal attacker said he decided to move on after club officials failed to initiate new contract negotiations and failure to pay him his salary arrears.
However, the diminutive forward has clarified that he wouldn’t legally pursue his payment from the record champions, but would concentrate on ensuring Wazito clinch the league title next season as the best retaliation.
“As we speak, I have put pen to paper on my deal with my new club Wazito. Everything has been completed and am just waiting for the new season to kick-off. My unveiling and others who have joined this great club will soon be held. Am very happy and now in the right peace of mind,” Omondi told Nation Sport.
The 24-year-old will now join former Gor Mahia goalkeeper Peter Odhiambo who is also on the verge of joining Wazito.
This is after the team released goalkeepers Steven Njung’e and Kevin Omondi ‘Jagoal’ among other players last month as they were deemed surplus to the squad and the effect of coronavirus on Badoer business being also cited as a major reason for their departure.
“I have had my time at Gor Mahia and I have no hard feelings more so on missing my pay. I understand the situation the club was in but my dream is to help Wazito win its maiden KPL title. It is possible. Gor is a big club with fanatical following and can’t just go down because a number of players have left,” added Omondi.
The former Kisumu Day goal poacher has been a first choice for coach Steven Polack and partnered up front with Nicholas Kipkirui for the better part of the season.
He scored five goals for K’Ogalo including the winner in Mashemeji duel against perennial rivals AFC Leopards on March 8.
The speedy forward joined K’Ogalo from Nzoia Sugar in 2017 and had emerged as a key player guiding the club to three league titles. Even then he would play along side Meddie Kagere and Jacques Tuyisenge, who have since the left the club and joined Tanzania giants Simba SC and Petro de Atletico of Rwanda respectively.
Wazito is also said to be in talks with AFC Leopards striker Vincent Oburu, highly rated Western Stima’s Fidel Origi and Maurice Ojwang as well as Kevin Kimani of Mathare United.
I wish you well Boniface
Remember Rachier said that Gor Mahia does not initiate talks to renew contract. if a player wants to renew contract, it is the player who must request talks. Its a funny way to operate a team.
This is painful,too painful
A well informed move by the two players .
For Odhiambo the goalie , his move which seemed to have the blessings of the coach was in pursuit of regular playing time and in the words of the coach , he sees Odhiambo coming back to Gor in the near future .
For Boniface , just like any other player with ambition , Gor was supposed to be the stepping stone to bigger things abroad through opportunities in the Champions league and a call to Harambee stars , both have not yielded the desired fruits and with age catching up , now was the time to make a move players in Europe make and that is to go to China -For the Money , as they wind up their career , Boniface’s move to Wazito is informed by such realities .
Back to Odhiambo the goalie’s move to Wazito and Coach Pollack’s prophesy that he would be back , a similar motivation sufffices , and that is of the Sheffield United goalie Henderson , who courtesy of a loan move from Man U , managed to escape the David de Gea suffocation and get the chance to be the revelation he has since become and I pray that Odhiambo seizes this chance to become what he is yet to be , but what he has the potential to become and that is to be the best in the country , Wazito provides that opportunity .
All in all , since the shunting aside of the excess bargage in the EC , something good seems to be happening in Gor vis a vis recruitments and that is that both incomings and the outgoings have the authority of the coach and not the transactional nature that was promoted and perfected by the Ngalas , the Nyangis and the Bolos , whilst Ngala and Bolo were sychophants with internal benifits , Nyangi was a Saboteur with externalhelp and external benifits , what I love the most about this last sentence is that am talking about this characters in the past tense .
Well said @teddy.
Hopefully the new recruits will be much better than the outgoing players and will seamlessly fit into the coach’s philosophy.
We have lost good players in the past but still dominate the league. Long may that contunue?
Yes, painful but understandable. He moved because non payment of his salary. Not even the allure of playing in CAF CL could convince him to stay.
Polack revealed he asked Omondi to stay but the striker was not convinced after enduring tough financial challenges at Gor during the 2019/20 season
Polack has urged Gor Mahia management to hold on to their key players who are being targeted by other Kenyan Premier League clubs.
Let’s elect officials capable of resolving these issues. Financial management of Gor Mahia should be placed in the hands of a qualified professional.
I don’t see the excess baggage cum idling players keen on leaving.
Will they be retained, despite never playing, to pad up the payroll. Monthly kes.5.5 m as per Bolo.