RETRACING OUR ROOTS
Tom
‘’Hassler’’
Odhiambo
goo’’ Onyango to the defunct Kisumu Posta.His direct replacement, Tom Odhiambo didn’t waste time to prove his mettle as
he scored crucial goals and led Gor attack during the 1990 season when Dawo’s form took a dip and the late Ndolo’s sickness
meant he was out of the game for several months. In his debut
season saw him clinching his first league title. At the end of the
season the late Gerry Saurer selected him to the national team
to take part in the CECAFA Cup held in Zanzibar.
Tasked with the responsibility of being Gor’s point man in
the attack, following the departure of Dawo who secured a
professional deal with Arab Contractors and the chronically
ill the late Anthony Ndolo ,in the 1991 season, Tom was no
longer the promising player but he ensured that the goal-getting target was achieved. True to word and action he was a
team player and very instrumental in the club that defended
the title successfully. A month before the 1991 KNFL wound
down he boldly proclaimed in an interview conducted by the
late Standard news paper sports editor Finny Muyeshi that Gor
wouldn’t settle in any position but the first. That is the statement that should spur the current crop to grab the required
nine points to capture the league title that has eluded them for
18 years. More over his determination, zeal and drive were key
features in the triumphant Gor Mahia’s 1991 campaign.
While Ethiopia ‘s national soccer team is getting massive reviews from the media, fans and well wishers as far as their world
cup final elimination phase match against Nigeria is concerned,
Kenyans at home and abroad will too offer their support.
Tom ‘’ Hassler’’ Odhiambo who earned his stripes with the national team graduating from the youth ranks, incidentally made
his debut back in early 1990 for the under 21 side when Kenya faced Ethiopia! While the Ethiopian football federation are
determined to ensure the country’s soccer level is at par with
athletics, Kenya’ governing soccer body continues to go on the
wane. However Tom Odhiambo, former Gor mahia,Bandari,Bosher fc(middle east) and Tusker striker, as well as a former
national team player, is very much involved in the sphere that
can/will resurrect Kenyan soccer.
Currently based in Oklahoma City in the USA, he is the soccer
project coordinator, youth coach, talent nurturer and developer.
He has massive track record as far as soccer structures implementations are concerned. With resources and logistic available
in the country, (finance, talent, goodwill from corporate bodies
though they are scared away by un warranted demands), he believes if Kenya can make it to the world cup in the 2022 edition.
If we can avoid the sideshows and intensely believe and focus in
restructuring our soccer.
Born in Kisumu County, Tom developed love of soccer at a
tender age and was the overall games captain while at Kisumu
Boys. After clearing his A-levels,Gor Mahia secured his services
in 1990.Joining the attack that consisted of the legendary Peter
Dawo and the late Anthony Ndolo and Jared Achieng. At the
time, the club had just lost the services of the late Sammy ‘’Jo-
The unexpected happened when he decide to switch camp to
Bandari in the 1992 season. There was an uproar and furore
in the Gor community when their deadly striker and team’s
talisman left. Sticking to his guns, Tom had a larger than life
perception at the time: He needed stability, education and a
clerical –related career which the ports men gleefully offered
him. What’s more he was to form a devastating strike partnership with another celebrated