Football legend Austin Oduor laid to rest in Kakamega as mourners hail towering giant

Football legend Austin Oduor ‘Makamu’ was on Saturday laid to rest at his home in Makunga, Navakholo, Kakamega County in a ceremony graced by top government officials and sports stakeholders.

Leading the government delegation at the burial was Sports Principal Secretary Eng. Peter Tum. Also present was the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of delivery and management in the executive office of the president Eliud Owalo.

The burial ceremony drew large mourners including past and present sports administrators, family as well as the football legends, many of whom who played with Oduor in the 1970s and 1980s.

Speaking at the burial, PS Tum said that the government, through the Ministry of Sports will construct a sports academy in the region, as a way of honouring the fallen legend.

Tum also proposed the establishment of the Legends Kit Fund to assist the decorated players of yore, many of whom are languishing in poverty despite the decorated service they offered to the country at their prime.

"We have many football legends languishing in poverty after hanging their boots, as a ministry we should think of having some funds set aside to cater for their needs," said Tum.

Kenyan football legends hailing from different corners of the country joined the family members in mourning their colleague. Veteran football coach Sammy 'Pamzo’ Omollo said that he was inspired to play football as a defender by the late Austin Oduor.

"It’s so sad that we lost Austin, he was close to me and our families - the Origis and Omollos-  were also close, I learned a lot from him in terms of football. As a defender he coached me briefly at Gor Mahia,"he said.

Former Harambee Stars goalkeeper Washington Muhanji remembered Austin as a very remorseful player when he captained the national team.

"I used to deputise Austin in Harambee Stars squad back then and he was an outstanding, physical player who commanded his troops in and out of the field."

On his part, Owalo who chaired the Funeral Planning Committee eulogised the late as a ‘role model’ and appealed to other football legends to emulate the fallen great, noting that he has left a rich legacy.

Oduor's burial had been preceded by a requiem service on Friday at the Kibute Catholic Church in Kisumu, which was attended by family and friends.

The deceased is the father of former Kenyan goalkeeper Arnold Origi and brother to ex-Harambee Stars Mike ‘The Magic’ Okoth. He is the uncle to Divock Origi, the Belgian international who starred in the 2018 World Cup Finals and once turned out for English Premier League giants Liverpool.