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The Harambee Stars captain has enjoyed a great season and could cap it off with a league title on Monday
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga is in line to win the Qatar Sports League Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after being selected among the final three nominees for the prestigious gong.
Olunga, who is joint top in the league top scorer’s charts, has been nominated alongside Akram Afif of outgoing champions Al Sadd and Yousef Msakni of Al Arabi.
The Kenyan international stands a good chance as he leads the Golden Boot race with 18 goals and three assists, same as with Al Arabi’s Omar Al Somah, with one game to go before the season concludes on Monday.
Afif meanwhile has netted 10 times and provided four assists while Msakni has 13 goals and five assists.
Olunga can increase his chances of winning the award that eluded him last season if he manages to lead his club Al-Duhail to the title on Monday as they lead Al Arabi by two points heading into the final game.
Al-Duhail are locked in a fierce fight for the crown with Al Arabi, leading the 12-team log on 48 points, just two ahead of their rivals, and must beat ninth-placed Al-Shamal to secure the trophy which will be Olunga’s first league title since moving to Qatar in 2021.
A draw could still be enough as long as second-placed Al Arabi do not win by more than two goals away to Al Sadd in what appears to be a tough match for them on paper.
Olunga is also chasing the Golden Boot Award and will hope that Al Somah does not outscore him on Monday to retain his crown.
The 29-year-old bagged the top scorer’s award last season after scoring 24 goals in 20 games and while his league tally has reduced this term, he is on course to beating his 2021-21 haul, having netted 36 goals in 37 outings, compared to 30 in all comp0etitions the previous year.
Olunga has already won two trophies season, when he led Al-Duhail to the Qatar Cup following a victory against Al Sadd in the final in March, the win coming just days after lifting the Ooredoo Cup, in which he emerged top scorer with 10 goals.
The former Gor Mahia striker last won the MVP Award in 2020 while featuring for Japanese top flight side Kashiwa Reysol before switching to Qatar. The winner of the Qatar Stars League MVP award will be announced on May 13.
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