Austine Odhiambo on 'Difficult' Gor Mahia Season, Harambee Stars' CHAN 2024 Hopes, and His Future at K’Ogalo

Harambee Stars midfielder Austine Odhiambo heads into the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) with his future at Gor Mahia still uncertain. But for now, his focus is singular: helping Kenya make history on home soil.

On paper, the reigning FKF Premier League Most Valuable Player had a standout season—netting 10 league goals and supplying multiple assists as Gor Mahia reached the FKF Cup final and finished second in the league. Yet behind the numbers, Odhiambo endured a tumultuous campaign.

Injuries, national team snubs, friction with changing club tacticians, and a trophyless season — something considered almost sacrilegious by the Gor Mahia faithful — made 2024/2025 anything but smooth.

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Speaking from Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday, the former AFC Leopards man acknowledged the challenges the team faced throughout the campaign.

“It was a tough season for Gor Mahia. It happens in football, but personally, I had to battle injuries and still tried to help where I could,” said Odhiambo.

Following the departure of head coach Jonathan McKinstry, the club appointed Brazilian Leo Neiva, who led the side into the CAF Champions League qualifiers, only to fall to Al Ahly in the first round. Neiva’s time at K’Ogalo was short-lived, ending by late October.

Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno was named interim coach before Serbian Sinisa Mihic took over in February—only to depart within two months after reported clashes with his backroom staff.

That revolving door of leadership took its toll on the squad’s performance, but Odhiambo sees a silver lining.

“I think we were just unlucky. But maybe it was a blessing in disguise. If we had won a trophy, it might have covered up the cracks. Now, the club can rebuild properly,” he said.

“We had three coaches, each with a different philosophy. It was hard to adapt, and every 10 games, we had to adjust again. We lost our identity as a team.”

Despite the setbacks, Odhiambo remains optimistic, emphasizing the team’s readiness and belief heading into CHAN.

Odhiambo made his senior debut in June 2024 against Burundi, providing an assist in the 1-1 draw. Since then, he has become an increasingly influential figure for Harambee Stars — even captaining the side at one point.

“It was a privilege to captain the national team. Representing your country is every player’s dream, especially when you’re based locally. You have to grab that chance with both hands,” he said.

Odhiambo is one of several creative forces in Benni McCarthy’s CHAN 2024 squad, alongside Mohammed Bajaber, Boniface Muchiri, and Ben Stanley Omondi. With the responsibility to create and convert chances, he knows what’s expected.

“The pressure is on us attackers. To win, we must score goals — and that’s pressure in itself. But playing for Gor Mahia prepares you for that kind of expectation.”

Now under the guidance of South African legend Benni McCarthy — a former striker with Porto, Celta Vigo, and Blackburn Rovers — Odhiambo says he’s already learning to refine his attacking instincts.

“The coach wants me to stay higher up the pitch and not drop deep,” he noted. “It’s about being more effective in the final third.”

For Odhiambo, the mission is clear. In 2024, he was linked with a move out of the country, with Belgian outfit AA Gent said to be interested in his services. 

However, he opted to stay put, and with Gor Mahia set to be restricted to domestic football after failing to qualify for the upcoming CAF competitions. Asked by Pulse Sports whether his plan was to stay at the club, Odhiambo was evasive.

“My main plan is to help the national team win the CHAN title. It’s every Kenyan’s dream to win it for the first time. That’s my number one priority right now.”

With CHAN 2024 bringing continental football back to Kenyan soil, Austine Odhiambo stands at the crossroads of personal redemption and national pride. 

While his future at Gor Mahia hangs in the balance, his heart and mind are locked on a bigger mission — helping Harambee Stars make history in front of a home crowd.

For a player shaped by pressure, doubt, and flashes of brilliance, CHAN offers the perfect stage to silence critics, inspire a nation, and perhaps, write a new chapter in both his club and international career.