George Odhiambo

George Odhiambo Ogutu is a Kenyan footballer currently playing for Gor Mahia in the Kenyan Premier League. He was featured in Goal.com's 100 Young Stars to Look Out for in 2011.[1]

George Odhiambo
Personal information
Full name George Odhiambo Ogutu
Date of birth (1992-12-31) 31 December 1992
Place of birth Thur Gem, Kenya
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Winger, forward
Team information
Current team
 Gor Mahia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Gor Mahia 46 (18)
2011–2012 Randers 1 (0)
2012 KuPS
2012–2013 Azam
2013 Shirak 10 (1)
2013 Ulisses 11 (1)
2014–2019 Gor Mahia 124 (16)
2019–2022 Tusker
2022– Gor Mahia
International career‡
2009–2017 Kenya 22 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 January 2014
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 July 2023

Club career

George Odhiambo attended Thur Gem High School. He began his career playing for Gor Mahia of Kenya at the age of 16. He became a star player for Gor Mahia and was awarded the "Most Promising Player" award in the 2009 Kenyan Premier League. In the 2010 season, he was awarded the Kenyan Premier League Player of the Year award.[2]

Randers

George was signed by Danish Superliga club Randers FC in January 2011.[3] He made his debut in a match against FC Nordsjælland. He came on the pitch, replacing Jonas Kamper and the match ended 2–1 to the opponent.

Azam

After a rather unsuccessful season in Denmark, Odhiambo signed with Azam in the Tanzanian Premier League at the start of the 2012 season. However, he fell out of favour within the squad and was released from his contract in July.[4]

Nairobi City Stars

Having been a free agent for nearly six months, Odhiambo signed a six-month deal with the Nairobi City Stars in the Tusker Premier League on 9 January 2013.[4]

Shirak FC

On 28 February 2013, Odhiambo signed a 3-year contract with ambitious Armenian club Shirak after impressing during a two-week trial.[5] Odhiambo made his debut for Shirak on 3 March against Ararat Yerevan in the Armenian Cup.[6][7] Odhiambo's first goal for Shirak came on 30 March 2013 in a 4–3 victory over Impulse in the Armenian Premier League.[8][9]

Return to Gor Mahia

On 7 January 2014, it was announced that Odhiambo returned to his former team Gor Mahia, signing a one-year deal.[10]

Tusker

On 8 August 2019, Odhiambo joined Tusker on a two-year deal.[11]

International career

George has been a regular in the Kenya national football team since 2009, playing alongside stars such as McDonald Mariga and Dennis Oliech.

Style of play

George plays predominantly as a winger but can also play as a striker. His greatest assets are his dribbling ability and pace.

Nickname

Curiously, George is known to his fans as "BlackBerry". It is believed that this moniker was given to him by a local journalist, who upon seeing the forward play remarked, "He is like my blackberry; he can do everything."

Achievements

Shirak

References
  1. "Goal.com Hot 100 – The Young Stars To Look Out For In 2011 | Goal.com". goal.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  2. "George 'Blackberry' Odhiambo Is The 2010 Kenya Premier League Player Of The Year | Goal.com". goal.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  3. "Gor Mahia's 'Blackberry' Odhiambo Lands Deal With Danish Randers FC | Goal.com". goal.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  4. Timothy Olobulu (9 January 2013). "City Stars to sign 'Blackberry' for six months". MichezoAfrika.com. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  5. "Former Gor Mahia midfielder George Odhiambo joins top Armenian side Shirak FC". goal.com. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  6. "Shirak vs. Ararat 1 – 0". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  7. "Blackberry makes winning debut for Shirak". futaa.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  8. "Shirak vs. Impuls 4 – 3". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  9. "Blackberry on the mark as Shirak beat Artur's Impuls". michezoafrika.com. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  10. "Blackberry signs one year deal". Gor Mahia News. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  11. OFFICIAL: George Odhiambo joins Tusker FC from Gor Mahia, futaa.com, 8 August 2019
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