Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga is currently in a tightly contested race for the Golden Boot in the Qatar Stars League, following a rare goal drought in recent matches. The Kenyan striker, who plays for Al Duhail, has not found the back of the net in the team’s last three league games, allowing rivals to close the gap in the competition for the top scorer title.
Earlier in the season, Olunga had shown remarkable form, scoring in five consecutive matches between late September and early November. This impressive run brought his tally to eight league goals, placing him just one goal behind the leading scorer at the time. However, with his recent dry spell, Olunga now finds himself two goals behind the current leader and tied with four other players. Additionally, four more players are only one goal behind him, making the race for the Golden Boot even more competitive.
The league’s top scorer at the moment is Al Rayyan’s Brazilian forward Roger Guedes, who has netted 10 goals in 12 matches. Olunga shares his eight-goal tally with Al Sadd’s Akram Afif and Rafa Mujica, Umm Salal’s Antonio Mance, and Al Shahania’s Pelle Van Amersfoort. Meanwhile, Al Duhail captain Almoez Ali is part of a group of players who have scored seven goals, alongside notable names like Julian Draxler of Al Ahli, Omar Sekou, and Ricardo Gomes of Al Wakrah.
Despite his recent struggles in front of goal, Olunga remains focused on contributing to his team’s success. Al Duhail is currently leading the league standings with 28 points, three ahead of second-placed Al Sadd. The team’s dominant 4-1 victory over Qatar SC in their last outing demonstrated their collective strength, even in the absence of goals from their star striker.
Olunga is no stranger to Golden Boot accolades, having won the award in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. However, injuries affected his form last season, limiting him to 15 league goals—a notable drop from the 22 goals he scored in each of the previous two campaigns. Now, he is determined to regain his scoring touch and help his team secure both team and individual honors.
As the season progresses, the battle for the Golden Boot is likely to intensify, with several players in contention. For Olunga, reclaiming his position as the league’s top scorer will not only bolster his chances of being named Player of the Season but also reaffirm his status as one of the league’s most prolific forwards. With Al Duhail in strong form and the title within their grasp, Olunga’s contributions could prove decisive in the weeks ahead.
