Oliech comes out of retirement, pens two-year deal with Gor Mahia

Legendary striker Dennis Oliech on Wednesday came out of retirement, penning a two-year deal with record Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia FC.

The move to the KPL giants had been on the cards in the last two-weeks, with both parties working over-time to win the signature of the decorated striker who, at the top of his game, plied his trade in France with former FC Nantes, Auxerre  and AC Ajaccio.

Oliech put pen to paper at around 1300hrs at the private offices of club’s long serving chairman Ambrose Rachier in Upperhill, Nairobi.

Though the financial details were not made public, Citizen Digital understands the former Harambee Stars captain will pocket close to Ksh. 2 million in sign-on-fee and a monthly salary of about  Ksh 200,000 making him one of the top earners at the glamour club.

Rwandan marksman Jacques Tuyisenge is the club’s top earner.

Oliech impressed the technical bench leaving coach Hassan Oktay with no choice but to sign him. Gor are short upfront and needed an experienced goal-poacher to lead their charge in the KPL as well as on the continental scene, where they have been drawn against New Star de Douala of Cameroon in Caf Confederations Cup knockout stage. The aggregate winner of this tie progress to the group stages of the competition where Ksh. 27 million is up for grabs.

Commenting on the signing, club CEO Lordvick Aduda said: “We wanted to beef the striking force and we thought instead of sourcing for another striker outside the country, we can work with Dennis(Oliech) due to his experience and talent.

He went on: “The coach approved him and thinks Oliech will help him achieve what he wants at the club in terms of our striking force.”

Club boss Rachier on his part said: ” We signed Oliech on recommendation of the technical bench. They have assessed him and believe he’s a player who will add value to the squad.

“In striking we had a weakness and the signing of Dennis Oliech is meant to fill the gap. Of course there are different views on his signing but I’m working with the recommendation of the technical bench. He is the player with the quality and we wish him well at Gor Mahia.”

Additional reporting by Tony Owori