Homeboyz youngster eyes league title in sophomore year after painful miss on top flight debut

2020/2021 National Super League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Portipher Odhiambo has vowed to give his all to ensure his current employers Kakamega Homeboyz do whatever it takes to claim the Football Kenya Federation Premier League title following their agonizing miss in the 2021/2022 campaign.

Making his debut in the top flight last season after being acquired from then second tier side Vihiga Bullets, Odhiambo was on his way to clinching the title in his first season with the western based side as a strong Homeboyz held a fifteen-point gap and showed no signs of slowing down in their historic attempt to win a first ever league crown.

NSL Most Valuable Player vows to cement starting place at Kakamega Homeboyz

However, that steam faded away as Homeboyz capitulated in allowing Tusker to close the gap and pip them to the title courtesy of a superior goal difference that allowed them to defend their title and clinch a thirteenth crown.

Following the agony, Odhiambo reveals that he will be using the hurt from the near title miss to help his side stage another title bid when the new season starts.

“The first thing I want to achieve in the upcoming season is to win the league title as a team because I really felt bad missing out on winning it last season on goal difference. It would have been a dream welcome for me to the top flight because I would have won the title in my first season so I felt really bad losing it,” the player told Mozzart Sport.

Additionally, the player revealed his season target would be to receive a callup to the national team as he also aims to impress new club head coach John Baraza.

“Getting a callup to the national team after cementing my place in the starting eleven is a target that I will be glad to achieve. Right now, all my efforts are geared towards hitting the ground running and proving to the new coach that I am ready to start,” the player added.

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The former Sofapaka boss was appointed to take over from Bernard Mwalala who was fired after being unable to steer the team over the line last season.

Baraza, who prior to his appointment was attached to National Super League side Mara Sugar, will be deputized by Peter Okidi with veteran tactician Edward Manoah taking up the technical director role.