Gor Mahia head coach Johnathan McKinstry has heaped praise on midfielder Austin Odhiambo, saying he has the potential “to be Kenya’s best player.”
Odhiambo has been in decent form for K’Ogalo this season, scoring six times in the league. He has also been adept at creating chances from the number 10 position between the pockets and moving into the channels while dragging markers away to create space for scorer-in-chief Benson Omala.
“I said last week in a one-on-one session with Odhiambo and told him he has the potential to be the best player in Kenya,” McKinstry said.
“He only has to believe in himself more. He has that potential and he just has to work for it. You saw moments in the first half (against Ulinzi Stars) where he was exceptional. Maybe he might get a late national team call-up (before Harambee Stars jet off to Mauritius).”
The boy from Baba Dogo, in the South East of Nairobi, was scouted by AFC Leopards in 2016 by then AFC Cubs coach Boniface Ambani and had a very good outing in the KPL under-20 football tournament that was staged at the Camp Toyoyo grounds in Jericho Estate, Nairobi.
He struggled to make the team at first, but he eventually broke through in the 2019 season, which earned him a Harambee Stars call-up. He then signed for Gor Mahia for a reported Ksh10 million to replace Azam-bound Kenneth Muguna, whom he has played for ever since
Meanwhile, when Gor Mahia signed Emery Bayisenge, Silvester Owino, the Ugandan pair of Patrick Kaddu, and Shafiq Kagimu in the mid-season transfer window to beef up their depth, it became difficult for the likes of Joshua Onyango to get minutes but the tactician has praised the defender.
“I also have to praise Joshua Onyango. He was a regular player in the first half of the season but suffered most from the transfer window because we signed Baisenge and Sylvester Owino in the window.
“Joshua was fantastic. He has been patient. He came into the side and did well which is so difficult to do when you have been out of the game for a long time.”