Gor Mahia midfielder Austin Odhiambo deservedly won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the 2023/2024 FKF Premier League season. Will this award be the fuel that propels him to a move abroad or will it give him a pressure he cannot handle?Austin was indeed the most important player in the Gor Mahia squad and catalysed their march to league victory with his 11 league goals and numerous assists.His combination with Benson Omala in particular was a big headache to defenders. His form shows that time is now ripe for a move abroad. Did the MVP award just come at the right time? Maybe.Mozzart Sport looks at some past winners of the most coveted individual award in the league and what became of their careers after clinching the gong.Massive boost for FKF after new High Court orderFrancis OumaOuma is the first ever winner of the award in its current format. He won the award after helping Mathare United win the league in a season in which he also became the top scorer.The award helped him seal a move to Tanzanian side Azam FC for a short spell before switching to Italian side FC Parma to join former Kenyan international McDonald Mariga. He however never featured competitively for the Italian side and was loaned out to Portuguese side G.D Tourizense.George “Blackberry” OdhiamboOdhiambo was a star in the revered Gor Mahia side of 2010 which earned him the name “Blackberry” from the K’Ogalo faithfuls. This was partly because Blackberry phones were pricey and trendy at the time. He was also as good as the fruit, they said.The MVP award at the end of that season helped him to make a move to Danish side Randers where he stayed for a year and later switched to Azam FC in Tanzania.##NAJAVA_MECA_8247688##Kevin KimaniThe AFC Leopards midfielder was the winner of the award in 2011, even though his then side Mathare United did not win the league. His skills and contribution to the team was however rewarded.After the award, he made a move abroad to play professional football at Belgian side K. Bocholter V.V.Michael OlungaThe Harambee Stars captain was the biggest success of the lot in that decade. After the MVP award in 2015, his career has been going forward with great strides to where he is currently, Al Duhail FC in the Qatar Stars League.After winning the MVP, Olunga joined Swedish side IF Djurdardens then made a move to Chinese side Guizhou Zhicheng who later loaned him to LaLiga side Girona FC. He later moved to Kashiwa Reysol in Japan before joining Al Duhail.Robert Matano opens up on why he left Tusker and challenges faced##NAJAVA_MECA_8246225##Joash OnyangoThe former Gor Mahia defender won the award in the 2018/2019 season when it was organized by the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK).Onyango was rock solid at the heart of Gor Mahia’s defense and helped them win the league and earn a ticket to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.He stayed with the 21 league champions for a year longer before crossing the border to join Tanzanian giants Simba SC.Erick KapaitoErick Kapaito is a peculiar one. The award has been kind to him. He is the only player in recent times to have won the award twice, first in 2018 season and later in 2020/2021 season, all of them while turning out for Kariobangi Sharks.AFC Leopards reveal nominees for Player of the Season ahead of end-of-season awards galaAfter his last award, the former Tusker FC striker left for a sporting adventure to Ethiopian side Arba Minch where he played for two seasons.Kenneth MugunaThe Kenya Police FC midfielder is among the list of MVPs who did not make a move abroad after the award even though he later found his way out after joining Gor Mahia.Muguna was the award winner in 2016, his debut season in the top flight while turning out for defunct Western Stima.While the award did not earn him a move abroad, it booked him a place in Gor Mahia where he joined the following year.##NAJAVA_MECA_8242035##Jacob KeliThe former KCB man won the award in 2013, a season in which he also became the league’s top scorer after helping the Bankers to a fourth place finish.Keli did not immediately make a move outside the borders but was signed by Kenyan giants AFC Leopards the following season.Keli later joined Zambian side Nkana FC in July 2015 but stayed for just six months before making a switch to Gor Mahia.Anthony NdoloNdolo was the award winner in the 2014 season while plying his trade with Sofapaka FC. The midfielder did not make a move abroad like the others but earned himself a move to Tusker FC.Ochieng takes stock of half season with GaadidkaMike MadoyaThe former Zoo FC man won the award in the 2017 season, his debut season in the FKF Premier League.Nicknamed ‘Kadogo kabaya’, to signify his lethal prowess and his diminutive frame, he was one of the outstanding players in the league and helped newly promoted Kericho-based side Zoo FC to maintain their league status.Madoya did not make a move abroad but instead chose to stay a season longer with Zoo FC before making a move to Tusker FC.One thing is for sure, the award turns a spotlight to the winner with the majority of the previous winners moving outside the country.##NAJAVA_MECA_8242018##Austin Odhiambo may just be another one of the winners to make a move abroad with the player heavily linked with a move to Belgian giants KAA Gent.
