Michael Olaha Becomes Naturalized Vietnamese Player After Struggling in Israeli Football

Michael Olaha, a Nigerian striker who once struggled to make an impact in Israeli football, has transformed his career in Vietnam, where he recently became a naturalized citizen and is set to join the Vietnamese national team. Olaha, 30, initially played for Hapoel Tel Aviv but failed to score in league matches and later moved to Hapoel Kfar Saba in Israel's second division. His time in Israel was seen as a low point before he returned to Vietnam, where he first joined Song Lam Nghe An in 2017.

In Vietnam, Olaha quickly adapted to the style of play and became a key player, scoring 39 goals and providing 19 assists since 2022. He even captained Song Lam Nghe An, a rare honor for a foreign player. In the 2025/26 season, he scored nine league goals, helping his team remain in the top division and finishing fourth in the league's top scorers list alongside former Beitar Jerusalem player Fred Friday.

This summer, Olaha transferred to Công An TP.HCM, a club with higher ambitions aiming to compete at the top of the Vietnamese league. Concurrently, the Vietnamese Football Federation supported his naturalization process, which was officially approved this week, allowing him to represent Vietnam internationally. His naturalization coincides with Vietnam's recent victory in the Southeast Asian Football Federation Championship, marking a celebratory moment for the country.

Olaha's journey from an overlooked foreign player in Israel to a celebrated figure in Vietnamese football highlights a remarkable career turnaround. Despite initial setbacks, he is now poised to make an impact on the international stage with Vietnam's national team.