Kariobangi Sharks head coach William Muluya thought he had fished out the most lethal rookie back in 2018 when he acquired the services of John Omondi while he was still a student at Emanani Secondary School, Kakamega County.Sharks signed Omondi who by then was banging in goals for fun in school games and would join them formally the following year after he wrote his final exams.The congestion in the Sharks forward line that had Erick Kapaito, Peter Lwasa and Sydney Lokale coupled by the lack of top flight experience saw the forward spend most of the times on the substitutes bench.However, a change of mind by Muluya has handed the burly player a lifeline in his career this season as he has transformed him from a bench warmer to the club’s first choice right back.Match Update| 79’⚠️ Yellow Card ⚠️John Omondi is booked for a foul on old boy Lwasa⚪ Kariobangi Sharks 0 – 1 Gor Mahia 🟢 #SharksVsGor#FKFPL pic.twitter.com/jEDYgR8Aa6— FKF Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) October 27, 2021 Muluya who was left scratching his head after his lieutenant Daniel Sakari ditched the club for Tusker last year was set to trust national U20 right back Fredrick Alushula to fill in Sakari’s shoes with skipper Eric Juma offering support. However, the Harambee Stars assistant coach surprisingly converted Omondi to a defender who has gone to miss only two league matches this season.Omondi says the move by the bench to move him from the forward line to the second line of defence gave him the opportunity he had been longing for to showcase his talent at the top flight.”It took me time to adapt to life at the rear but the support from the rest of the defenders and the coach came in handy. I really wanted to play consistently when I arrived at the club but unfortunately there were other forwards who were on form and I had to warm the bench,”he narrated.🟢 | 46′ Substitution for the visitors Onyango Joshua,Mokaya and Lwasa are replaced by Eric Juma, Oudu and John OmondiBandari FC 2 Kariobangi Sharks FC 0#BandariVsSharks#BKPL pic.twitter.com/Fit3czbJwP— FKF Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) June 25, 2021 Asked on how he has managed to cope with the right back roles, the youthful player credited Sakari for sharing tips which he has gone to complement through watching videos on YouTube.”Sakari is a close friend who has been advising me on how to defend and positioning. Apart from his counsel, I have been watching videos just to learn more. I am liking the challenge and will continue to serve the team wherever the coach wants me to,” he said.Omondi in the meantime says he still has hopes of becoming the forward he wanted and even turn professional in future.
