On Monday evening, Lebanese club Safa Sporting announced the signing of Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars striker Benson Omala, a move that has raised eyebrows within football circles.The announcement took many by surprise for two key reasons.First, there had been no prior speculation linking Omala to a move to the Asian nation.Secondly, the country is currently embroiled in conflict, with Kenya recently announcing plans to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon voluntarily.##NAJAVA_MECA_8262068##At present, football has been suspended in Lebanon due to the ongoing political instability, primarily involving clashes between the Iran-backed group Hezbollah and Israel.The situation escalated when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel, prompting Israeli strikes on targets in Lebanon.Omala joins Lebanese club after parting ways with Gor MahiaThese cross-border attacks have heightened fears of a broader conflict, leading thousands to flee the nation.Last week, the Kenyan government, through Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, issued a warning to Kenyans against traveling to Lebanon, emphasizing that the travel ban imposed in 2023 remains in effect.”The government reiterates that a ban on labor migration to Lebanon has been in place since September 2023 and urges Kenyans to refrain from traveling to Lebanon or defer any intended travel until the situation normalizes,” read part of Mudavadi’s statement.”An Inter-Ministerial Committee led by the State Department of Foreign Affairs is working around the clock to ensure the safety of 26,599 Kenyans in Lebanon. The Committee is liaising with Kenya’s mission in Kuwait, which is accredited to Lebanon, and other partners to execute an evacuation plan. All evacuations will be conducted on a strictly voluntary basis,” the statement further read.Upbeat Wekesa rallies fellow Bankers with Champions League a heartbeat awayOmala had earlier disclosed that he had several offers on the table, and only time will tell if joining a war-torn nation was the right choice for the former Western Stima striker.“I have offers on the table, and we will go through them before making a decision on my future. If we agree with the interested club and they also reach an agreement with Gor Mahia, then I will make a move because I always dream of playing overseas again,” he said after winning the ‘Golden Boot’ a fortnight ago.
