Football in Kenya can be quite a mouthful especially with the off pitch negotiations that happen as players and fans alike lie eagerly in wait for the next big discourse that will definitely make the headlines. TeamKenya looks into the football transfers that completely caught us unawares and also got many scratching their heads into what exactly happened in the backyard.
1. Austin Odhiambo to Gor Mahia
We kickoff with the latest shocker in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League. Giants Gor Mahia have raided AFC Leopards again-Austin Odhiambo is now a Green Army. After several months of speculation, record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia have finally landed their man Austin Odhiambo as a free agent from archrivals AFC Leopards. The attacking midfielder, who has been offered a two-year deal, becomes the second player from Ingwe to join K'Ogalo in the on-going transfer window after defender Yusuf Mainge crossed over a few days ago. Surprisingly, after declining a Ksh 10 million offer from Gor Mahia last season, AFC Leopards have been forced to surrender midfielder Austin Odhiambo for free.
2. Erick Masika To AFC Leopards
The defender made a shocking move to AFC Leopards from archrivals Gor Mahia in 2012. His move from the Green Army to the blue side of the world was not without controversy.
Initially, Gor Mahia had put Kes1 million forward as Masika's price tag but AFC Leopards reportedly paid Kes450,000 for him. "I know there are those at Gor who were unhappy when I expressed my desire to move, but they also need to understand the reasons why I made the decision. If they do, they will give me the respect I deserve,” the defender said upon putting pen to paper before he started serving the local giants.
Masika's transfer push and pull was so intense he threatened to buy his contract out and join Ingwe. "If the worst comes to the worst we will just use Fifa rules, which stipulate that if a player has less than six months on his contract, he can talk to any club and his contract can be bought out," AFC Leopards Secretary General Duncan Angode dared.
3.Karim To Wazito
Having spent illustrious moments at Gor Mahia where he won three KPL titles, Karim Nizigiyimana's move to newbies Wazito led to bemusement in numerous quarters.
The Burundian full-back had made his name at Gor Mahia before he left to join Uganda's giants Vipers SC in 2019. He did not last long at Saint Mary's Kitende before he returned to Kenya and signed for free-spending and ambitious Wazito.
With the club failing to rock the KPL with stellar performances, as they had done in the National Super League where they lifted the title, Nizigiyimana did not hit the ground running and was shifted out in the January transfer window.
His quick exit was as shocking as his arrival leading to questions whether the once-revered overlapping defender's career was fast approaching the end.
4. Dennis Oliech to Gor Mahia
After four years away from a football pitch, former Kenyan striker Dennis Oliech landed at Gor Mahia in what shocked all fans.
His arrival at the club in 2019 marked a major twist in Oliech's career after spending most of his playing time away from the local scene. Having featured for Al-Arabi in Qatar before his move to France where he played for Nantes, Auxerre and Ajaccio, and a return to the Middle East where he played for Dubai CSC, few people expected to see Oliech grace the KPL once more.
He had played for Mathare United between 2001 and 2003 before venturing outside the country. He left Gor Mahia, a club he scored four goals in 10 matches, in a controversial manner.
5. Edwin Lavatsa Returning to Gor
The striker made a rather shocking move to Gor Mahia during the 2019/20 short transfer window and the move raised more questions than answers. Lavatsa, 28, had spent three seasons at Gor Mahia before he left in 2013 for MC Alger of Algeria where, he equally struggled, before returning to the KPL and signed for Mathare United.
The Upper Hill alumnae failed to stamp his authority at the Eastlands club and the next move saw him land at Bandari. Without recording much success at the coast, Lavatsa switched to Kakamega Homeboyz where he enjoyed much more playtime than in the previous two clubs.