For his classy style of play, K'ogalo fans nicknamed George Odhiambo 'blackberry'. Any one who has followed Kenyan football in the past two years would acknowledge the striker has done the nickname justice.
Not only has the player churned out one great performance after another throughout the period, he has also individually won several matches for Gor. Apart from his numerous assists and penalty wins, the talented youngster scored eight goals to help his club into second position in the 2010 Kenya Premier League (KPL) season.
His confident, stylish, dazzling and mesmerising, and often unstoppable goal-bound bursts contributed in great measure to Gor's ranking as probably the most entertaining team in KPL's 2010 season.
As he embarks on his professional football career in Denmark, I can only wish him the best of luck and hope that he will eventually fulfill his great potential in a Kenya national team shirt.
16 November 2010
So what happened to the Mexico v Kenya match?
One of the worst things to happen to Kenyan football recently is the return of Hussein Swaleh to local football management. Whenever the KPL technical committee chairman has opened his mouth, he has uttered what has ultimately turned out to be untruths.
When Kenya returned from Guinea Bissau with a shameful 0-1 score, Swaleh blamed it on bad blood between Mariga and Oliech. A few believed him but most Kenyans knew the true story. Then he announced an impending Kenya v Ivory Coast tie that never was.
When I heard him reveal that Kenya were scheduled to meet Mexico in a friendly on the 17th November FIFA friendlies day, like in the proverbial "wolf! wolf!" cries story, I ignored him. For the sake of his credibility, I hope he is right this time but I highly doubt it. Am writing this on the 16th November and there is not a single sign in sight of the match happening.
When Kenya returned from Guinea Bissau with a shameful 0-1 score, Swaleh blamed it on bad blood between Mariga and Oliech. A few believed him but most Kenyans knew the true story. Then he announced an impending Kenya v Ivory Coast tie that never was.
Ulinzi won the championship but Gor won too
As the Ulinzi brigade decimated Karuturi Sports in the battle of Afraha with a 2-0 thrashing, another different scenario unfolded at City Stadium. Gor Mahia FC, who had forced the title chase to the wire, appeared bereft of ideas on the biggest occasion, when they knew only a win would do if they were to snatch the title from Ulinzi's jaws.
It was on the stands of City stadium that all the action happened. The match was supposed to have been a home game for Nairobi City Stars but the K'ogalo faithful invaded the stadium in their thousands and turned it into 'their home march'.
Like they had done throughout the season, they sung and blew vuvuzelas nonstop in support of their beloved team. The intensity of their passion could have matched any that can be found at the staunchest of European and South American club supporters .
One of the outstanding legacies of the 2010 KPL premier league season will surely be that K'ogalo fans reignited passion in local football. They turned up at City with great hopes of their team being crowned champions but really, fate was not in their hands, it was elsewhere-at Afraha Stadium, where Ulinzi was in no mood for early Christmas gift.
Hopefully, the fans' season-long show of commitment will be enough motivation for Gor to build on their 2010 success and deliver the long missing trophy to their fans.
It was on the stands of City stadium that all the action happened. The match was supposed to have been a home game for Nairobi City Stars but the K'ogalo faithful invaded the stadium in their thousands and turned it into 'their home march'.
Like they had done throughout the season, they sung and blew vuvuzelas nonstop in support of their beloved team. The intensity of their passion could have matched any that can be found at the staunchest of European and South American club supporters .
One of the outstanding legacies of the 2010 KPL premier league season will surely be that K'ogalo fans reignited passion in local football. They turned up at City with great hopes of their team being crowned champions but really, fate was not in their hands, it was elsewhere-at Afraha Stadium, where Ulinzi was in no mood for early Christmas gift.
Hopefully, the fans' season-long show of commitment will be enough motivation for Gor to build on their 2010 success and deliver the long missing trophy to their fans.
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