AFC Leopards defender Kayci Odhiambo has opened up about the harsh realities of playing in the National Super League (NSL), revealing how the dire conditions nearly forced him to quit football altogether.Odhiambo, a product of Olympic High School, began his professional career at Dandora Love—formerly Mt Kenya United—after finishing high school in 2019.During this period, he also played for Akati Sportif at the youth level.##NAJAVA_MECA_8709991##His natural talent quickly made him a standout, seamlessly transitioning between central defense and central midfield roles.Spectators at Camp Toyoyo easily recognized his exceptional ability, which led to his nomination for the Young Player of the Season award.However, the accolade ultimately went to Kisumu All-Stars’ Alfred Emoni Tanui, who now plays for Bandari.Despite his talent, his time in the NSL was far from smooth.Speaking on the Tiki Taka show, Odhiambo detailed the brutal conditions he and his teammates endured, particularly during away matches.“NSL is difficult, but that is where I learned how to play as a midfielder. Any time we played away games, I opted to sit out,” Odhiambo sharedGor Mahia defender clears the air on exit rumours“Away games were torturous. I only played two. There was a time we had back-to-back games within two days, and only eight players were available because most couldn’t afford the fare to attend training or even buy meals,” quoted Pulse Sports.Recalling a specific trip to Mombasa to face Modern Coast (Mombasa United), Odhiambo described a nightmarish experience. The team traveled overnight, arriving in the morning to extreme heat.“The driver left us in town to run errands, so we found a place to eat around 10 AM. We later had to walk to the pitch in our warm-up kits with our bags. Locals hurled insults at us before we even got to the field.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8710006##During the game, conditions worsened.“We were given a jerrican of water, but it was salty. Our bench had no shade. By the 20th minute, I was exhausted. Still, we won 2-1.” Yet, the victory was short-lived as the team had to endure another overnight journey back to Nairobi in an uncomfortable bus. I was so relieved when I woke up and realized I was back in Nairobi,” he admitted.Despite such hardships, players received no travel allowance.“We were not given any fare, so I had to walk from City Stadium to Jericho. Others had to trek to Kayole, Kangemi, and further. A stakeholder at Dandora Love, however, was kind enough to provide us with basic necessities.”Erambo named Tusker’s January player of the monthDue to these experiences, Odhiambo deliberately avoided away matches, playing only seven times for Mt Kenya United—five of them home games.Remarkably, he still managed to score five goals.“If I had stayed in NSL for longer, I would have given up hope quickly. Any time I saw we had an away fixture, I skipped training. At that time, I was still young and hadn’t learned resilience.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8711018##The physicality of NSL was also an eye-opener.“I started seeing the game differently because it was adult football. If you spoke badly, a player could beat you up, and there was nothing you could do about it.”
