AFCON: Egypt 2019 perfect stage for talented Omollo

Harambee stars and Cercle Brugge midfielder Johanna Omollo. [File]

For midfielder Johanna Omollo, an appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations this June will for sure be one of the many dots connecting his football journey that started in 2006 in the dusty fields of Dandora slums in Nairobi. Having shown tremendous promise while playing for Dandora Youth during the 2006 edition of Extreme Sports tournament, Omollo caught the eye of scouts who took him to Belgium’s CS Vise.

Harambee Stars struggles, however, meant his talent counted for nothing but at 29, Egypt 2019 will offer the pedestal his talent cries for.

Omollo is one of the many midfielders coach Sebastian Migne will bank on if Kenya hopes to turn some heads in the land of the Pharaohs.

Having spent virtually all his life abroad playing football save for the 2006/2007 season when he turned out for the now defunct Coast Stars, pressure will be on Omollo to provide the experienced garnered from yonder.

Unlike his contemporaries such as Jerry Santos, Innocent Mutiso and Edwin Mwaura, Omollo only spent a short stint in Kenya before opting to take the European route after being signed on by JMJ Academy.

After leaving JMJ Academy, Omollo’s first stop was CS Vise in Belgium where he played 63 times.  Former JMJ Academy chairman Jean Marie Abeels describes Omollo as one of the best players he has ever dealt with. “He was very disciplined and therefore he had an easy time transitioning into the European culture. I always knew he would go far,” he said.

After a brief stint in Belgium, Omollo moved to Luxembourg in 2009 where he made 48 appearances and scored eight goals. He moved to Beerschot, which was then featuring in the Belgian top division in 2011, but struggled for play time, making just five starts. His most successful stint was, however, at another top Belgium side Royal Antwerp from 2014-2017 where he played 77 times and scored five goals.