Elgin City is my happy place says midfielder Rabin Omar, who is back at Borough Briggs for a second time after spells at full-time Morton, Dumbarton and Stirling Albion
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RABIN Omar says Elgin City is the club where he has most enjoyed his football, and is thrilled to be back at Borough Briggs for a second spell.
The 24-year-old midfielder spent two seasons at Elgin, who he joined from Annan Athletic in 2018, and scored eight goals in 53 starts and nine sub appearances.
He then won a full-time deal at Championship side Morton, was loaned out to Dumbarton in League One and made a switch to Stirling Albion for the first half of this season.
Now he is back at Borough Briggs after signing a deal with City until the end of the season, making his first appearance as a starter in last Friday's 2-2 draw at Edinburgh City.
“I thought it was a good time to try out full-time football and it was a brilliant experience at a really good club,” he said.
“They had a change of manager and the new man felt the squad was too big, so I went out on loan at Dumbarton and enjoyed it.
“Going to Stirling, it was one of those moves that never really worked out for myself even though it got off to a promising start.
“When I spoke to Gavin (Elgin manager Price), I realised that the last time I properly enjoyed my football was when I was at Elgin.
"When we were pushing for play-offs and went on an unbelievable run just before Covid hit.
“I’m hoping it can kind of take off from where it was the last time."
He hopes his time playing in higher leagues can help him make an impact at Elgin and assist the club's quest to advance up the table.
"I’ve picked up more experience. Before I came to Elgin I had only played in League 2 and it was my bread and butter but now I’ve had the experience of moving up and being full-time and you get to see football from a different perspective.
"Most notably how to look after yourself and that is something about me that has really changed since having those experiences. It’s definitely set me up well.
"Fitness is something that you learn about and you know you have to stay fit and it’s something I am quite big on now, keeping myself ticking over.
"Back then (at Morton) I had to keep myself ticking over in case the opportunity came around that I would be starting the next game.
"I do tend to look after myself, and I know match fitness is different but I’d like to think that I’m not far off it."
City boss Price had no hesitation in putting Omar straight into his starting line-up at Edinburgh last week, and says he is pleased to bring the player back to Elgin.
"Rabin did well, showed good energy and gave us a bit of quality in the middle of the park," Price said.
"He can play a number of positions, we played him in the centre and out left at one point in the game.
"We know what we get from him and I thought he did well considering he hadn’t played for a while."
The player hopes he can be part of an Elgin City rise up the League Two table this season with an eye on promotion.
“I’ve looked at Elgin and I’ve played against them this season and they are still a really strong side, probably one of the teams that shouldn’t be in the position they are in.
"It’s incredibly tight and Elgin are starting to put a run together so if we can continue that run, you can find yourself in that play-off picture.
"Teams round about you will lose points to each other, you start to climb the table and suddenly you are looking at Annan and Forfar as the teams directly above you.
"They are comfortably in those play-off spots so the short-term aim has to be to try and put a run of wins together."
The opportunity to work again with Price persuaded Omar to choose Elgin ahead of other clubs who were pursuing his signature.
"There were a couple of other clubs but the decision to come to Elgin and play regularly again was the most attractive.
"I just need to enjoy it again and that was the biggest factor, having a manager that believed in me back then and he still does.
"Having worked with Gav before and knowing what he expects of his players and the way he sets his teams out to play, it was a good fit for me two years ago and it’s probably a good fit for me now as well.
"I know exactly what I’m getting with the manager and he knows exactly what he is getting from me, so it seems to be a deal that benefits both parties.
"The majority of the team is the same from when I was there and the gaffer did well to keep hold of so many of them."
