Influential Gor Mahia midfielder Austin Odhiambo confirms foreign interest for his signature

Gor Mahia midfielder Austin Odhiambo was on top of his game in the 2024 COSAFA Cup finals in South Africa.

He found the back of the net twice in the three matches the Kenyan U23 team played in the tournament and was named man of the match in the final group stage game against Zimbabwe.

Odhiambo revealed that the performance he put in South Africa attracted the attention of several African giants and European clubs as well.

Before jetting to South Africa, Odhiambo was heavily linked with a move to Belgian giants KAA Gent, a club that has shopped for players from Kenya before.

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The creative midfielder disclosed that after Kenya was eliminated, more clubs reached out to his agent to express interest for his services.

The fact that the matches were beamed live on arguably the best platform in the continent, he says, helped market his talent to a wider reach.

“It was a good tournament for me although I would have loved to see the team progress to the final and even win it.

After our last game, more teams contacted me. It didn’t come as a surprise for me as the matches were live and I feel I expressed myself well,” he told SportsBoom.

With the growing interest in the midfielder’s signature, it is increasingly becoming a tall order for Gor to retain him further.

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The clearest indication that his exit from the club was imminent was his omission from the squad that went to Tanzania for the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2024 despite being fully fit.

Sources indicate that Odhiambo was left behind so as to finalize a potential move to Europe as the other Gor players who featured in the COSAFA Cup traveled to Tanzania for the regional tournament.

Although Odhiambo remained tight-lipped on why he didn’t cross the border with the rest of the team, he predicted a brighter future for his career.

“I do not want to comment on why I didn’t travel to Tanzania for the Kagame Cup. The management is better placed to divulge more,” he said.

In the 2023-2024 season, the former national U20 team midfielder raked in 12 goals and created 13, making him the midfielder with the highest goal contributions in the campaign.

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These statistics played a significant role in delivering the 21st league title to Gor and saw him make his senior national team debut last month.

Odhiambo terms the season as the best he has ever had since breaking to the Kenyan top tier slightly over four years ago.

“It was the best season I have ever had. I enjoyed doing what I loved most, to be honest. I was a regular goal scorer and helped the team defend the league title with three matches to spare. I also played for the senior national team and registered an assist in the first game,” he said.

The former AFC Leopards player hopes that the stats will procure him a move to Europe, a dream he has been harbouring since childhood.

Odhiambo missed a chance to join Swedish side Elfsborg in 2021.

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While Odhiambo won the league with Gor, his elder brother Tyson Otieno clinched the FKF Cup with Kenya Police.

Odhiambo revealed that his sibling was the greatest source of motivation and watching him score a penalty in the final against KCB, and win the title was an accomplished goal.

His biggest wish is to see Otieno have a taste of league victory and play for the Harambee Stars.

“Winning titles with our respective clubs was a proud moment for our family. He has been a source of inspiration in my career.

He supports me and I hope that one day he will win the league title. He has what it takes to play for the national team as well,” added the two-time league winner with Gor.

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