Africa-Press – Kenya. Mercurial forward Benson Omala is back on home soil, bringing lethal finishing, experience and a compelling family reunion to Nairobi United in a transfer that resonates far beyond the pitch.
The 24-year-old completed his move on Thursday after returning from a short, unsettled spell in Cambodia with Visakha FC, where his contract was terminated by mutual consent in December 2025, just months into a three-year deal.
Omala featured in eight league matches and scored three goals, but the experience was marked by disruption. Rather than dwell on disappointment, Omala chose reflection.
“Going abroad teaches you a lot,” he said. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. What matters is how you respond when things don’t go as planned.”
After months adrift, he sought a fresh start closer to home — and found it in Nairobi United. The decision, he insists, was a deeply personal one. “This move is about peace of mind,” Omala said. “I wanted a play where I could focus on football again, where I feel valued and understood.”
His return also brings a rare and emotional subplot: a reunion with his younger brother Duncan. While Kenyan football has seen siblings play in the same league, sharing the same club, ambitions and daily grind remains a novelty.
“Playing alongside my brother is something special,” Omala said. “It’s not something you plan in football, but when it happens, you embrace it fully.”
Yet sentiment did not outweigh ambition. Omala believes Nairobi United’s rapid rise offers a serious sporting project. “People might think this is just a feel-good story,” he said. “But Nairobi United are serious. They have a vision, and I want to be part of building something that lasts.”
Back in Kenya, Omala returns with an enviable pedigree. At Gor Mahia, he established himself as one of the league’s most lethal forwards, winning back-to-back Golden Boots and scoring 45 goals for the record champions.
The form earned him regular call-ups to the Harambee Stars and cemented his reputation as a penalty-box predator. “Those seasons at Gor Mahia shaped me,” he said.
“They gave me confidence and showed me what I’m capable of at the highest level here.”
Now a senior figure in a newly promoted side, Omala welcomes the weight of expectation. “Pressure is part of the job,” he said. “If people expect goals from me, that means they believe in my ability.” He is also ready to embrace a mentorship role — especially with Duncan learning his trade alongside him. “On the pitch, he’s my teammate first and off the pitch, I’m his brother. I want to push him, guide him and also learn from him.”
Nairobi United, debutants in the top flight and newcomers on the continental stage, are crafting an identity built on hunger rather than survival. Omala sees himself as part of a collective project. “This is not about Benson Omala being the star. It’s about the team. If we succeed together, the individual moments will come.”
He also made no secret of his desire to return to the Harambee Stars setup. “The national team is every player’s dream,” he said. “If I perform well here, the rest will take care of itself.”
As he prepares for his first outing in Nairobi United colours, Omala’s tone is one of quiet resolve. “I’m still the same striker, and I still love scoring goals, working hard and competing. The difference now is that I’m home, and I’m hungry again.”
Inside the dressing room, his arrival has been warmly embraced — none more so than by Duncan, who described the reunion as both emotional and motivating.
“Having Benson here feels like a dream,” Duncan said. “I’ve always looked up to him, and now I get to learn from him every single day.”
He believes his brother’s presence will lift the entire squad. “He brings quality and confidence,” Duncan said. “When someone like him joins, it pushes everyone to raise their standards.”
Beyond football, the bond runs deeper. “This is family before anything else,” he said. “We’ve supported each other since we were kids, and now we are doing it at the highest level in Kenya.”
As they prepare to share the pitch, Duncan hopes the partnership will translate into success. “We want to help Nairobi United grow,” he said.
“If we can do that together as brothers, it will be something we will be proud of forever.”
In reuniting with family and finding a club willing to back his talent, Benson Omala has chosen stability over spectacle. For Nairobi United, it could prove a decisive signing. For Omala, it is a chance to write a new chapter — grounded in trust, driven by ambition and shared with blood.
