Inspiring Life Story Of Michael Olunga From Being Raised By A Single Mother To Earning Ksh. 6.6 Million A Month.
The Harambee Stars and Al-Duhail captain Michael Ogada Olunga is the real definition of from grass to grace. The Kenyan sharp shooter has endured all odds to become one of the best footballers the country has ever produced.
Engineer Michael Olunga was born and raised in the Lucky Summer area, Nairobi County where he grew up. Olunga did not experience a father’s love as his father Joseph Ogada Olunga died when he was only 7 years forcing his mother Alice Ogada to relocate back to their rural area in Kasipul Kabondo in Homa Bay County before returning back to the city.
After finishing his Primary school education, Olunga joined Upper Hill school in Nairobi where his football career rejuvenated as he was scouted by the Liberty Sports Academy owned by former Harambee Stars coach and radio Jambo presenter Jacob Ghost Mulee.
Despite being one of the best footballers at the school, Olunga was also a sharp student as he scored A- in his KCSE examination earning himself a chance at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in Geospatial engineering where he earned himself the title of Engineer Michael Olunga.
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He began his career with the Liberty Sports Academy in the Nairobi County League where he scored 32 goals for the side during the 2012 season helping them finish the season unbeaten and earn promotion to the Nairobi Provincial League.
Olunga made headlines when he scored seven goals in a single match helping his team to an 8–0 win where he earned the attention of 13-time Kenya Premier League champions Tusker FC as he was signed on one-year loan deal. He finished the 2012/13 season with only 2 goals for Tusker. He was again loaned to Thika United and later joined Gor Mahia in 2015 where his star began shining.
In 2016, the Swedish side showed interest in Olunga and invited him for trials with the club during pre-season training where he impressed the officials and on February 17, 2016, Michael Olunga signed a four-year contract with Djurgårdens IF.
On 8th August 2016, he scored his first two goals for Djurgården in a 3-1 win against IFK Goteborg where he was also named man of the match. In the last 12 games of the Allsvenskan League Olunga scored 12 goals making him the 5th top scorer in the Allsvenskan top scorer table. He was nominated for the Newcomer of the Year award, but the award was scooped by Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak.
After his exemplary performances he put at Swedish League, in 2017 Olunga received a lifechanging offer from a Chinese club, Guizhou Zhicheng however his stint at the club lasted for a few months before he was loaned out to La Liga side Girona FC for one year deal.
On 13th January 2018, he made his La Liga debut against Las Palmas scoring a hat trick in the span of 22 minutes after coming off the bench in a 6–0 win, becoming both the first Kenyan player and the first Girona player to score a hat-trick in La Liga.
On 10th August 2018, Olunga joined Japanese club Kashiwa Reysol and on 24th November 2019, he scored a record 8 goals for Kashiwa Reysol in a 13-1 victory win against Kyoto Sanga. Olunga finished the season with 27 league goals as Kashiwa finished J2 League season as the champions and won promotion to the J1 League.
In his first season in the Japanese first division league, Olunga finished as the top scorer in the 2020 Japanese J1 League with 28 goals, winning the Golden Boot and the J-League 2020 MVP becoming the first African player to win the J-league MVP award.
In January 2021 Olunga was signed by Qatar Stars League giants Al-Duhail for a fee of €6 million, for a 3-year contract. Where he became the League’s top scorer in his first season with Al-Duhail scoring 22 goals. Olunga won Qatar’s league title in his second season as the club’s captain as well as finishing as the top scorer in the league for the second season in a row.
Michael Olunga made his Kenya national team debut with Harambee Stars on March 28, 2015, while playing for Gor Mahia in a friendly match between Harambee Stars and Seychelles.
He scored his first goal for Kenya in a 2-0 victory against South Sudan. Where he has netted a total of 21 goals for the national team after making 48 appearances. During the 2023 Jamhuri Day celebrations he was awarded the HEAD OF STATE COMMENDATION (HSC) by President William Ruto.
In 2022 Jacob Ghost Mulee revealed how much Michael Olunga earns at Al-Duhail saying, “Today, I think Michael is the highest-paid player in East and Central Africa, you can google his salary. I did that on and he’s getting Ksh. 83 million a year.” The Kenyan goal poacher earns a month salary of Ksh. 6.6 million.
Olunga has a Multimillion mansion back in his rural home in Kasipul Kabondo in Homa Bay and is ranked as one of the richest footballers in Kenya. He also owns a MOFA football academy established in his home county, Homa Bay in Nyanza. Olunga has invested heavily in the project since he is a product of such initiatives. He also drives expensive cars and lives a lavish lifestyle.
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