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The Harambee Stars captain has described a difficult season with minimal playtime and management issues as the worst memory of his career.
Michael Olunga has openly described his brief tenure at Chinese club Guizhou Zhicheng as the most challenging period in his otherwise stellar football career.
The Kenyan striker, who is currently shining with Al Duhail in Qatar, endured a tough spell in China that he now views as a low point in his journey.
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07:00 - 15.06.2024
Why Firat sees light at the end of the tunnel for Harambee Stars in World Cup qualifiers
Harambee Stars went through a myriad of problems both on and off the pitch in Malawi, but avoided defeat against both Burundi and reigning AFCON holders Ivory Coast.
Olunga's venture into the Chinese Super League began in January 2017 when he transferred from Swedish club Djurgårdens IF.
Despite having three years left on his contract with the Swedish side, where he had impressed by scoring 12 goals in his debut season, Olunga made the move to Guizhou Zhicheng after catching the eye of several other international clubs, including Turkey's Galatasaray and Russia's CSKA Moscow.
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11:45 - 12.06.2024
Tactical misstep? Former AFC Leopards coach questions Olunga's solo role in FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Former AFC Leopards coach Luc Eymael criticizes Harambee Stars' tactical use of Michael Olunga as the lone striker in qualifiers.
However, the Kenyan forward's hopes of continuing his rising trajectory were quickly dashed as he struggled to secure a regular spot in the Chinese team
"My lowest moment was in 2018 when I had little game time while playing in China. I was really frustrated at that time because I could not break into the first team due to problems with the team management," Olunga disclosed in an interview with NTV.
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21:00 - 09.06.2024
Michael Olunga's first offer to buy Swedish club AFC Eskilstuna rejected amid complex negotiations
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga's initial bid to acquire Swedish club AFC Eskilstuna has been rejected amid financial discussions.
Despite his valiant efforts to establish himself within the team, Olunga found the obstacles insurmountable, leading to a loan move to Spanish La Liga side Girona.
"I really tried to push hard so that I could get into the first team, but it was impossible. In the end, the team had to loan me out to Spain in La Liga, which was one of the highlights of my career," he added.
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11:00 - 22.05.2024
Michael Olunga: A peek into lavish assets owned by Harambee Stars and Al Duhail striker
Wealth accumulated by Michael Olunga has been wisely invested in community projects and personal assets.
His stint in Spain marked a significant turnaround, where Olunga made history by becoming both the first Kenyan and the first player from Girona to score a hat-trick in La Liga.
This achievement came during an astounding 22-minute performance against Las Palmas, which ended in a 6-0 victory.
After his year in Spain, Olunga moved to Japan, signing a lucrative three-year deal with Kashiwa Reysol in the J1 League.
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14:00 - 20.05.2024
Michael Olunga missing as Engin Firat names Harambee Stars squad for upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers
Michael Olunga is unexpectedly left out of Harambee Stars' squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast.
This contract reportedly worth around Sh300 million signified a new chapter in his career, where he continued to excel and impress on the international stage.
Olunga’s career began modestly at Liberty Sports Academy in the Nairobi County League, where he was a prolific scorer.
He grabbed headlines with a remarkable seven goals in a single match, helping his team to an 8-0 victory.
His early promise earned him moves to Kenyan Premier League sides Tusker and later Thika United on loan, before a significant spell at Gor Mahia.
During his tenure at K'Ogalo, he ended the season as the league's top scorer with 19 goals contributing to the team’s record 15th league title win.
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