Olunga signs four-year deal with Djurgarden

Olunga-signs-Djurgarden

IF Kenya’s football of the year Michael Olunga yesterday signed a four-year contract with Swedish top league side IF Djurgarden, that could see him stay at the club until 2020.

The Harambee Stars and former Gor Mahia striker was unveiled at the team’s stadium in Stockholm yesterday and will be wearing jersey number 17 for the season.

Djurgarden Sporting Director Bosse Andersson said on the signing, “Michael (Olunga) was a player that we followed in early autumn, and he had the qualities we were looking for.

After a long process and dialogue as he came to the final here in January and has been in the business since, it’s where he slowly acclimated and developed. “He is very ambitious and purposeful, trains hard and always wants to learn and take the next step.

Then I think he made a fantastic impression as a person both on and off the pitch. “The development potential is huge so the peace and quiet of our Djurgården environment he can develop into a striker for the biggest leagues in Europe. It is the goal of Michael himself and he has the characteristics required for it.”

Speaking on the move Olunga said, “There will be a lot of attention at home in Kenya on this and I’m very happy that it’s done with Djurgarden now.

The association has received me in a great way and I want to say a big thanks to Bosse (Andersson), Henry (Berggren), Daniel (Granqvist) and coaches Pelle Olsson for their support.

“Obviously, even the players, who received me in a nice way. It has been a challenge for me but it feels very good now.” Olunga added, “It tends to be that when I come to a new team. In the beginning, I have to bring order to their feet and get going, but once I got started the scoring tends to roll on the good.

Then it was the target of Tele2 Arena special for me. “It was my first match for the home crowd and I felt I should get something extra for them so that I would get a good welcome. So I thank God for her good fortune, and hopefully there will be more goals to come later in the season.

“Now I have only played friendlies but it feels like a good level. Everything is very well organized and the quality of the stadium and training camp has been very good. It feels like it’s a good springboard to the big European leagues for many players in the Allsvenskan.”

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