M. KisengeBudding Gor custodian indebted to Jerim Onyango for his rise
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 30.01.22. | 14:43
Otieno heaps praises on former Kenyan international for the role he has been playing in his career
Budding Gor Mahia custodian Caleb Otieno has hailed the departing goalkeepers' trainer and former Kenyan international Jerim Onyango for bringing him to the fold and holding his hand.
Otieno avers that he would be languishing in the lower tiers had Onyango famously known as Jerry not spotted him and recruited him to the Gor Mahia Youth team back in 2018.
Jerry who was among the casualty when the management fired almost the entire technical bench in Saturday served as the Gor Youth keepers' trainer as well as team manager upon his retirement and was promoted to the senior team last year.
Otieno revealed that Jerry scouted him while plying his trade with Jericho All Stars and recruited him the Youth team following his stellar show in the Chapa Dimba na Safaricom tournament.
Otieno would earn elevation to the Gor senior team in 2019 thanks to his performance in the division one and ever since, he has never looked back.
"I owe my success in football to Jerry for he spotted me and gave me the chance at Gor Youth. He has been coaching, guiding and advising me for years and I hope that I will continue making him proud," he said.
Having made his debut for the senior team in last year's Cup tournament, Otieno who was part of the national U23 team, Emerging Stars that finished fourth in the CECAFA tournament held in July in Ethiopia, the youngster says he is keen on earning his first league start soon.
As a goalkeeper, Chaker Alhadhur impressed me and won the hearts of many with his brave performance for Comoros against Cameroon in the #AFCON2021.
— Gad Mathews (@GadMathews) January 25, 2022
Despite being a left back he was forced to stand in goal after all goalkeepers initially tested positive for Covid-19.#GadSaves pic.twitter.com/8Su95r9xiN
Otieno has had to contend with warming the bench as the technical bench has been preferring Gad Mathews and Adama Keita in league matches.However, he says he is working on his reflexes and power in a bid to be at par with the other two custodians.
"I can't wait for my league debut. I have been working hard for it and hopefully, I'll be considered soon. I have been training and learning from a number of experienced goalkeepers who have told me to improve on my ball distribution," he added.
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