Salim Hamisi Odeka may have just featured once for his immediate former side Kisumu All Stars in the FKF National Super League (NSL) during the first leg, but the heavily built centre-half insists that this will not be a deterrent as he seeks to resume his top tier journey with Nairobi City Stars. He is one of coach Salim Babu’s mid-season signings and is raring to go.The well-traveled defender had opted to settle at hometown side All Stars after the Homeboyz axe but found the going tough, featuring only once before going on a lengthy injury layoff. Upon recovery and struggling to find playing time, he would opt out, terminating his contract due to unmet financial agreements with the club. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8702846##This won’t be an issue when he takes to City Stars colours, so he says. ‘’I have been training a lot. I’m someone who has personal training sessions, and apart from that, after fully recovering, I kept myself active with my hood club Obunga FC,’’ says Odeka. A reunion with Babu, he reveals, was in the pipeline from way back, as the tactician had long hinted at having him on board even while at Kenya Police FC. He last played for the seasoned coach at Nzoia Sugar FC- including the club’s incredible run during the 2022/23 campaign. ‘’We have been in contact ever since we parted ways while at Nzoia. There was a time in fact that I would have joined him at Kenya Police, but this one fell through, and I had to continue at Kakamega Homeboyz.Finally, at City Stars, he reached out and told me that if I wanted to get my career back on track, then City would offer me a platform. It was an easy decision to make because I am hungry for action. It’s been a while,’’ continues Odeka.Tanzanian striker yet to give up on FKFPL ‘Golden Boot’ despite trailing Ogam by eleven goalsOdeka, just recently confirmed at the club, has been training with the side for nearly a month, among other potential signings. He is particularly pumped at the prospect of working for someone who, he says, understands his strengths as a player, and most importantly, he understands their philosophy. ‘’I feel the second leg will work out well for me and the entire City Stars team. I’m glad to be playing for someone who understands my strengths and whose philosophy and style of play I know,’’ he adds. Odeka played for coach Babu first at now-defunct Western Stima before reuniting at Kisumu All Stars in the second tier two years later. From here, Babu would tag him along when he was offered the manager’s role at Nzoia Sugar. Why Ouma ditched Nairobi City Stars for BandariThey reunite one more time at relegation-threatened City Stars. At position 17 on the 18-team Premier League log, City lies precariously in the drop zone, tied on points, in fact, with bottom-place Bidco United. Odeka says this is the work for which he signed up. ‘’Most of us signed have played in the Premier League before, so there’s an advantage to that. It’s not going to be easy, but we know with a good strategy we can lift the team from the current position,’’ concludes Odeka, who has played for Agro Chemical FC, Stima, Sony Sugar, Nzoia, Homeboyz, and All Stars. Muchiri opens up on impact of Nyaudo’s new signingsCoincidentally, the defender’s first assignment, in the event he earns his debut on Saturday, will be against his former side, Kakamega Homeboyz. Coach Babu has so far brought in former Gor Mahia anchorman Kevin Juma, Hansel Ochieng, and Benjamin Mosha alongside Odeka.
