Influential Gor Mahia midfielder Austin Odhiambo admits growing 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.

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 didn’t come as a surprise for me as the matches were live and I feel I expressed myself well,” he told SportsBoom.com. 

Are Gor Mahia preparing for life without Odhiambo?

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

The clearest indication that his exit from the club was imminent was his omission from the squad that is in Tanzania for the CECAFA Kagame Cup, despite being fully fit.

Sources indicate that Odhiambo was left behind so as to finalize his move to Europe.

The rest of Gor players who featured in the COSAFA Cup are in 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. All I can say is I am confident the team will do well in Tanzania,” he said.

Image Credits: Mozzart Sport

FKF Premier League stats good enough to send Odhiambo to Europe

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.

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.