“Rama wants to rejoin us; he has called and talked to the management. We do not have any problem with him coming back but that will depend with coach Frank Nuttall, who wants to sign an attacking midfielder.

Ngala emphasized that coach Frank Nuttall will have the final say on whether Rama rejoins the team.

“We know Rama’s potential but the coach does not. So he has to impress the coach who will then make a decision on his move. The signings we made are paying dividends and that is why we are performing well.

Of course paying the players is a challenge but Ngala said that the club officials are working on this aspect.

“It is my hope that this run will continue, we are trying to facilitate the playing unit with everything even if sometimes it is a challenge, in order to keep the momentum going. It will be difficult to finish the season unbeaten but who knows? If we play the second leg the same way we are playing right now, then we are bound to make history.”

Ngala joined Gor Mahia in January 2012. It was a time when Gor Mahia signed multiple players who were expected to excel including the likes of Yusuf Juma, George Midenyo and felix Nwosu. The league started very poorly for Gor Mahia. Rama was one of the few bright spots during this period. When Gor Mahia finally won its first game of the season, it was Rama who scored.

Rama Salim would then leave in 2013 for a stint in Qatar. He came back in 2014 before leaving for South Africa to attend trials. After the South Africa deal failed to materialize, Rama went to Tanzania to play for Coastal Union.

For Rama, Coastal Union is a dead end. If he wants to further his career, he is better off coming back to Kenya where he has a chance to impress national team coach Bobby Williamson. A place in the national team can lead to better things.

For Gor Mahia fans, they need to understand that player attrition is the new reality that Kenyan clubs must learn to deal with. Players have only a few years to earn money. They need to earn enough so they do not end up poor after their career is finished. So you cannot begrudge a player leaving.

Having said that however, Gor Mahia must structure their contracts better.   Players should be able to leave the club to pursue greener pastures but the club should be paid something in return.

Rama is clearly passionate about Kogalo as evidenced by how distraught he was when Gor Mahia lost the league on the last day of 2012.

Further to that Rama is an excellent player who is versatile in that he can play in midfield or attack. He is tactically astute and is very good at playing off of other strikers.

He will give coach Nuttall additional options which is critical considering that after June, Gor Mahia will face a backlog of fixtures including CECAFA, KPL Top 8, FKF cup and of course the KPL. With a thin squad, injuries will plague the team. Therefore squad depth is paramount.

For Gor Mahia fans, they now have several avenues with which to help shore up the clubs finances such that players will not leave for places like Sudan and Tanzania. Preventing constant player attrition will enhance Gor Mahia’s fortunes at continental level. So join the SACCO, become a member, buy the Gor Biro bread, utilize paybill 350100 or buy club merchandize and enable Gor Mahia to maintain its players.