This year, his dream began to materialize as he signed with Kenyan Premier League giants Shabana FC early in the season, even before finishing school.
When Shabana triumphed 2 – 0 over KCB at Gusii Stadium, an unknown talent made a memorable debut scoring in the final minutes of the game after coming on as a substitute. The boy who announced himself in front of the passionate home crowd of Tore Bobe is none other than Austin Odongo ‘Lastborn’, a recent form four leaver of Ebwali Secondary School in Vihiga.
Austin, a dynamic striker caught the attention of many during the previous Chapa Dimba tournament, where he played a key role in Ebwali’s success. The forward helped guide his team through each stage of the competition, making it all the way to the nationals where they were ultimately eliminated in the knockout phase.
I had the pleasure of meeting the lethal striker at the recent Chapa Dimba All Stars camp and his humility is striking, a sharp contrast to his electric and aggressive playing style on the pitch when poaching for a goals.
The 17 year old’s passion for football began at a young age, inspired by his coach and mentor, Martin Bulema in Bulemia , Busia County. He first started playing football at Bulemia Primary School, while being mentored back at home by coach Buluma, who played an instrumental role in his development.
Austin then moved to Ebwali for secondary education and this is where football became a central part of his daily life, with the dream of going professional now taking shape. “ When I joined Ebwali, I always dreamt of going professional, but the journey seemed tough considering that most talent’s are easily scouted in Nairobi leaving those in rural areas to make a name for themselves first.” he reflects.
This year, his dream began to materialize as he signed with Kenyan Premier League giants Shabana FC early in the season, even before finishing school. He capped off his debut over the weekend with a goal, marking an unforgettable moment in his young career.
When asked about his future aspirations, he shared, “ I would love to olay abroad, specifically in Europe. That’s every player’s dream. But for now, my focus is on where I am and how I can progress as a player.”
The polite smiling teenager wrapped up our conversation with a piece of advice for aspiring young footballers. “ I would tell every young prospect to hang in there, keep working hard and never give up. Always put God first.”