Michael Olunga's personal target in Qatar's new season

©Michael Olunga Twitter.

STARS ABROAD: Michael Olunga's personal target in Qatar's new season

Festus Chuma 21:00 - 05.09.2023

Harambee Stars captain is aiming at cementing his legacy with a record-breaking achievement in the Qatar top-flight league while playing for Al Duhail.

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga has set his sights firmly on an unprecedented achievement in the Qatar Stars League. 

The prolific striker, who plies his trade with Al Duhail, is on a quest to secure his third Qatar Star League Golden Boot, a feat that has never been accomplished in the history of Qatari football.

Olunga’s  journey to potential glory began in the 2021/2022 season when he first clinched the Golden Boot with a remarkable tally of 24 goals. 

He followed it up with another outstanding season in 2022/2023, netting 23 goals, solidifying his status as one of the league's deadliest forwards.

As the 2023/2024 season kicks off, the 29-year-old Kenyan sensation has wasted no time in asserting his dominance on the pitch.

 With four goals to his name already, he finds himself tied for second place on the list of top scorers, alongside Congo Brazzaville's Guy Mbenza of Muaither.

Olunga's journey in the current season began with a bang, as he struck the decisive goal in Al Duhail's thrilling 2-1 victory over Al Ahli on matchday one. 

He then showcased his class with a stunning brace in a resounding 4-1 victory against Muaither. Most recently, he continued his goal-scoring exploits by finding the back of the net in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Al Arabi.

Speaking about his ambitions, Olunga expressed his unwavering determination to retain the golden shoe.

"As a player and a striker, I always aim to be the best every time I step onto the field. I've won it twice in a row, and winning it for the third time would make history and set a record in Qatar, as no other player has ever achieved this feat,” he said.

“I always strive to be a record-breaker wherever I go, which gives me the motivation to work hard this season. I've started the season well, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.

“So, I'm not settling for anything less than the golden boot. I feel in good condition to defend it, and it provides me with an opportunity to become a record-breaker. It would be fantastic to accomplish that,” he added.

Last season, Al-Duhail dominated the 12-team Qatar Stars League, finishing at the top with 51 points from 22 matches, narrowly edging out their closest title challenger, Al-Arabi, by just two points.

As the current season unfolds, Al Duhail currently occupies the third position on the league table, having secured seven points from three games.

Their next scheduled match is against Al-Shamal on Saturday, September 9 but due to the FIFA international break, the match is expected to be postponed.