Adios, football legend Austin Oduor ‘Makamu’
Catholic priest Kizito Mmasi Lihanda of Eshisiru parish, Diocese of Kakamega conducts final rites on the body of Austin Odour during the burial service at Makunga village,Navakholo in Kakamega.
In recognition of his achievements and contribution to Kenyan football, the Sports Ministry will inscribe the name Austin Oduor at Talanta Hall of Fame in Nairobi.
This will also serve as an inspiration to upcoming footballers and as a way of fostering Oduor’s legacy, Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said at the burial of the football legend in Makunga, Kakamega yesterday.
Reading the CS’s speech, Sports Principal Secretary, Peter Tum, who was accompanied by Sports Director Jackson Indakwa, said Oduor will be remembered as a diligent, disciplined and humble man who touched many hearts both on and off the field and imparted to them values of honesty, humility and work.
“Austin has fought the good fight, he has finished the race and has kept the faith, now there is, in store for him, the crown of righteousness which the Lord will award to him.”
Over two thousand mourners attended the burial service as they bid farewell to one the best central defenders Kenya has ever produced. Among family members who spoke at the burial were his brothers Mike, Antony, Gerald and son Arnold Origi, who all played football at the highest level.
While sending his condolences, Tum said: “I know the community here has lost an icon. An Icon in the sense that the kind of development that Austin brought to community, courtesy of his participation in football and therefore being a legend, I’m told we have other legends here.”
“I may not have known Austin at the level many of you did, but I’ve read his story and I realize that he’s a legend in his own right in this country, and there as congregate here to bide farewell to one of our legend. Let us sit together and work out something. We must work with the community here and put up something like a sports academy in his honour. Austin was at another level. We shall look for land here to build the academy. “
Widow Pamella Odour described Oduor as a very loving husband who took care of her and the children.
Over 50 football legends among them Bobby Ogolla, JJ Masiga, Josephat Murila, Nahashon Oluoch, Sammy Owino and Mike Otieno joined mourners in Makunga village in Navakholo Sub-County.
Many played alongside and against Oduor in the 1970s and 1980s.
Also in attendance were Members of Parliament, Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Julius Mawathe (Embakasi South), Onyango Koyoo (Muhoroni), AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda, veteran coach Robert Matano among others. Also in attendance were FKF presidential candidates Cleophas Shimanyula, Tom Alila and Twaha Mbarak.
Oduor died aged 65 on October 15 in a Kakamega hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties. He won the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup aka Nelson Mandela Cup with Gor Mahia in 1987, becoming the only football club captain in Kenya to lift a continental title.
