This archive report was first published on 11 August 2019.
On Saturday, August 11, 2019, Michael Olunga made headlines with a hat trick that propelled Kashiwa Reysol to a 4-1 victory over Renofa Yamaguchi in a Japanese second-tier league match.
The Kenyan international's impressive performance, which earned him the match ball, also ensured Kashiwa Reysol consolidated their lead at the top of the table and maintained a prime position for securing qualification to the top-flight.
With his 11th goal of the season, Olunga moved up to second place on the league's top scorers' chart, five goals behind Korean forward Lee Yong Jae.
“Securing promotion to the top-flight is my target. Thereafter, we take things as they come. It will be good to be the top scorer. But I have to keep scoring to attain that target,” Olunga said.
As Kashiwa Reysol continues to dominate the league, speculation surrounding Olunga's potential move to top European leagues, including the English Premier League, has been growing.
