The biography of Michael Olunga is a fascinating and inspiring story of a young man who rose from humble beginnings to become one of Kenya’s most successful football players. Born in 1994 in the streets of Lakisama, Nairobi, Olunga lost his father at the age of seven and was raised by his mother, Alice Ogada. Despite this setback, Olunga excelled in his education, graduating from the Technical University of Kenya with a degree in Geospatial Engineering.
Olunga’s love for football began at a young age, playing barefoot with other kids in the street. However, it wasn’t until he joined Liberty Sports Academy in the Nairobi County League that his serious football career began. He helped the team to remain unbeaten by scoring 32 goals for the 2012 season, and the team was promoted to the Nairobi provincial league.
In 2012, Olunga was loaned to Tusker for a one-year deal, where he scored two goals for the team. He was then loaned to Thika United and later joined Gor Mahia in 2015, where he helped the team win the league unbeaten and was the top scorer of the Kenyan league, scoring 19 goals.
After becoming a superstar in the Kenyan league, Olunga was signed by several international clubs. In 2016, he signed a four-year contract with Swedish club Djurgårdens IF, where he scored 12 goals in 12 games and won the newcomer of the year award. In 2017, he was signed by Chinese club Guizhou Zhicheng and loaned to Girona FC in La Liga for one year, where he set a record by scoring a hat-trick in 22 minutes after coming off the bench against Las Palma’s.
In 2018, Olunga joined Japanese club Kashiwa Reysol and had the most successful season of his career. He scored 28 goals in the entire season, won the Golden boot and the J-League 2020 MVP, becoming the first African player to win the J-league MVP award.
In 2021, Olunga moved to Qatar Stars League champions Al-Duhail for a fee of €6 million and became a maestro and the small god of the club. He emerged as the top scorer of the club and the league in the 2021 season.
In addition to his successful club career, Olunga also plays for Kenya’s national team, the Harambee Stars. He made his debut for the team in 2015 and was later made captain after Victor Wanyama’s retirement.
Despite his success, Olunga has remained humble and grounded. He is not yet married but was in a relationship with a woman named Grace, whom he introduced to the public in 2016. He earns a salary of Ksh 180M per year, making him one of the richest footballers in Kenya. He owns a multimillion mansion in Nyanza and drives expensive cars. Olunga’s story is a true inspiration to many aspiring footballers and serves as a reminder that with hard work and determination, anyone can rise from grass to grace.
