Austin Odhiambo Lifts Lid on Botched Bandari Move Before Controversial Switch to Gor Mahia from AFC Leopards

Austin Odhiambo enjoys cult status among Gor Mahia fans but he would have been donning the Bandari jersey and not the green of K’Ogalo had things turned out differently.

Odhiambo, then a young promising attacking midfielder, made a move that attracted condemnation and applause in equal measure when he ditched AFC Leopards for bitter rivals Gor Mahia in October 2021.

The Harambee Stars playmaker had endured a topsy-turvy spell at Ingwe before left the club under a cloud but it was not Gor Mahia who were initially set to sign him.

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Coastal side Bandari had tabled an enticing offer to the player and all seemed well until the midfielder had a change of heart and that is when K’Ogalo hijacked the deal.

“I went to Bandari, trained for almost a week but I was not happy with the environment and the management,” Odhiambo revealed on Obinna TV on why he decided against playing for the Mombasa-based club.

Bandari’s loss was Gor Mahia’s gain as the midfielder would soon establish himself as the most important player at the club, driving them to the 2022-23 and 2023-24 FKF Premier League titles under Northern Irishman Johnathan McKinstry.

While his goals and assists won K’Ogalo games, his artistry on the ball, vision and great passing range was a joy to watch and he would deservedly be crowned Player of the Year in 2024, leading to interest from clubs abroad.

Odhiambo did not get a move overseas immediately and had to wait until January 2026 when he landed a lucrative deal with Lebanese giants Nejmeh SC, where he now plays and on reflection, the midfielder says switching to Gor Mahia was the best decision he ever made.

“I says it was God’s will because I would not have been a champion today if I signed for them [Bandari],” he added.

Odhiambo is currently back in Kenya owing to the suspension of the Lebanese league which was put to an abrupt halt by strikes in the country due to the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel and the United States if America.