Kenya may yet again have a generational talent in their hands with Andreas Odhiambo catching the eye of the local and East African footballing scene with his mature performances.These performances have made him one of Kenya’s exciting young players.It is sporadic for FKF Premier League teams to give talented youngsters a chance and the minutes required in their first team, but this has been Kariobangi Sharks’ forte. Pushing the youth players to get a chance at being top-level professionals.’I do not play for the team, I play for my mum’ – Sofapaka’s Baron OchiengHowever, coaches can be forgiven for overlooking young talents, as the competitive nature of the FKF Premier League makes it difficult to give young players time to develop.Having attended Kariobangi Sharks academy, followed by a stint in the lower tiers with Embakasi All Stars, Andreas returned to the senior team fold at Sharks.The midfielder has established himself as a vital cog at Sharks and is now on the radar of top local and foreign clubs.##NAJAVA_MECA_8619921##The FKF Premier League has long been known for its aggressive nature, which means that players must be adequately physically developed before they can be trusted and here we have to credit the fitness team at Sharks led by John Kemboi and Oscar Aden who make sure this is the case.Andreas shows no signs of weakness and is more than willing to compete against experienced pros.Andreas’ stamina is top-notch as he has started 11 matches for Sharks this season (missing others while on international duty) and has played all games in the CECAFA U-20 qualifiers too. This shows his ability to be relied upon in matches.President Ruto to launch upgrade of stadium earmarked to host 2027 AFCONHe is a manager’s dream, and despite his age, he shows incredible versatility.Andreas can be used as a number 6, number 8 and a number 10 and has qualities that suit each position.One of his strengths that aids in his versatility is his elite awareness, constantly aware of his situation and constantly scanning. Always aware of where he is and where to give the next ball.##NAJAVA_MECA_8619906##The young midfielder’s positioning has improved and he is even being tasked with contributing more to his side in the attacking third. He has 14 dribbles seeing a 100 percent success rate in his dribbling and averages 2 attempts on goal per match.As stated, Andreas has become more of a threat this season for Kariobangi Sharks. His attacking stats this season are;Goals Scored-2Expected Goals(xG)- 0.94Assists- 1Eugine Asike opens up on juggling classes and football in EnglandKey Passes -10Chances Created-11An area of improvement however is his shot location, looking at his shot map below, you see he has taken a large number of shots from positions where he is unlikely to score.Thus he will need to get to the penalty box more often if he wants to score more goals.Although Andreas does not regularly appear on the scoresheet, he still contributes through his ability to create.In possession and passing is where he is key for his side, being the main progressor in this Sharks side.##NAJAVA_MECA_8619943##This season he has made a total number of 629 passes, with a pass accuracy of 79%, his progression through passing and carrying (as stated above with his positive dribble numbers)He wins Kariobangi Sharks fouls as his aforementioned skillset sees him awarded per 90 minutes 2.36 fouls, a total of 30 fouls awarded to himOut of possession, Andreas ability to chip in when needed have been a real asset to Kariobangi Sharks.Ex-Harambee Stars ace throws weight behind McCarthyHe is able to intercept the ball well, averaging 1.73 interceptions per match which is decent.His intelligence is a significant factor in his defensive duties, coupled with his athleticism and competitiveness.Andreas possesses an ability to regain possession, having won the ball back 156 times for his side, averaging 12.29 ball recoveries per 90.##NAJAVA_MECA_8619957##Andreas’ main skillset, however, is his ability in the build-up, he shows an immense level of composure on the ball and never seems to panic when being pressed.In conclusion, Andreas has developed athletically, allowing him to compete at the highest level locally and soon could make the leap abroad like Stanley Wilson before him.
