Harambee Stars striker Michael Olunga made history as the first Kenyan to win the 2020 Most Valuable Player in the Japanese League today.
The Kashiwa Reysol striker, who won the MVP title, also collected the Golden Boot in the gala, becoming the league’s first African MVP.
He becomes the second foreign player to emerge the MVP after Leandro Domingues who also played for Kashiwa Reysol player to win this award.
Olunga scored 28 goals and made four assists in his first full season in J1 League with his team netting a total of 60 goals in the league that came to an end over the weekend.
At 26, Olunga, who is known by his nickname as The Engineer, credited Reysol for sticking with him after a slow start following his arrival in August 2018.
Following the club’s relegation that season, he notched 27 goals in 2019 to help Reysol clinch the J2-League under returning manager Nelsinho Baptista and swiftly return to the top flight.
Olunga played for Kenyan teams Gor Mahia as well as Tusker.