Gor Mahia attacking midfielder Austin Odhiambo has declined to extend his contract with the club until the record league champions pay him the agreed signing-on fee.
The former AFC Leopards midfielder had agreed to sign a two-year contract extension with the club, but will only put ink to paper once the club have met their end of the bargain on paying him his signing-on fee.
“We had agreed on everything, but they now want me to sign a contract without paying my signing-on fee, and I don’t think that’s going to be possible,” Odhiambo said.
Odhiambo, who donned the number 10 shirt in during their FKF Charity Shield Cup win over Kakamega Homeboyz at the Kasarani Stadium ten days ago, looked like he was anticipating on building on from a stellar last season, but he has made it clear he may not stay at the club beyond August 31, when his current deal expires.
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.
Should the club fail to tie down Odhiambo, it will be a big blow to head coach Johnathan McKinstry, who has made the midfielder an integral part of the team and the prime creative hub of the record champions.
“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 told the press following a 2-0 win over Ulinzi Stars back in May.
“He only has to believe in himself more. He has that potential and he just has to work for it.”