Harambee Stars striker Michael Olunga has won the 2020 J1 League Most Valuable Player (MVP ) Award.
In a gala held on Tuesday, the Kashiwa Reysol striker had been assured of the golden boot gong after netting 28 goals in the season and becomes the first African MVP and the eighth player to claim that award as well as the Golden Boot in the same season.
Olunga’s tally, which accounted for nearly half of Reysol’s 60 goals this season, was the highest in the league since the 33 Araujo scored for Gamba Osaka in 2005.
Speaking about the award, Olunga said: “(Relegation) was really frustrating and depressing. But I knew I had a lot of responsibility on my shoulders because the people of Kashiwa trusted me with the responsibility and I decided to fight for the team.
“I’ve tried to acclimate with the weather, I’ve tried to get to know the Japanese way of playing and I’ve been able to form a good relationship with the teammates. I believe a combination of these factors has led to my success, both in the J2 and J1.”
The former Thika United, Gor Mahia and Tusker FC striker were also in the Best XI for the league.
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— DAZN Japan (@DAZN_JPN) December 22, 2020
🏆2020 Jリーグアウォーズ🏆
得点王
柏レイソル #オルンガ
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『（全28ゴールの中で）横浜FC戦の2点目のゴールがお気に入り！ファーストタッチで全てが決まった』
📺「2020 Jリーグアウォーズ」
🗣司会：矢部浩之,西岡明彦#DAZN で配信中
視聴はこちら👉https://t.co/e0ZmlZn9cc@OgadaOlunga pic.twitter.com/W5NiP70vB2
