Gor Mahia's rookie keeper elated with first team debut

Gor Mahia rookie goalkeeper Caleb Otieno is elated after making his first-team debut on Sunday in an FA Cup match against Congo Boys at Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa.

Otieno, a Gor youth team graduate, has been the reserve keeper in Gor Mahia’s last two league matches, and on Sunday, coach Vaz Pinto decided to give him a taste of senior team action and he did well as he kept a clean sheet in Gor’s 3-0 win over Congo Boys.

In an exclusive interview, Otieno spoke of his delight at making his first-team bow. He said that it is a moment that he had been looking forward to.

“It feels good to finally make my debut for Gor Mahia because this a moment I have been looking forward to. I have been working hard in training and the coach finally rewarded me with an opportunity,” he told Mozzart Sport.

The custodian further revealed what coach Pinto and goalkeepers’ trainer Jerry Onyango advised him to do before the game.

“Before the game they told me to be calm and play out of pressure. They also advised that I control my defense line and I think I did that well. I am happy that we kept a clean sheet in my first Gor Mahia game,” he added.

Otieno was also full of praise for Gor’s experienced custodian Boniface Oluoch. He says the veteran keeper has been guiding him in training and that he is a shot-stopper that he looks up to. He also lauded Manchester United’s David de Gea.

“Boni helps me a lot in training. He urges me to be relaxed, and make good decisions. He also guides me on positioning and ball handling. Generally, he has helped me a lot, he is my role model locally. Internationally, I am a David de Gea fan, I like his style of play,” he added.

He wants to earn as much playtime as possible so that he can achieve his dream of playing professional football outside the country.

“The ultimate dream is to play outside the country but at the moment I want to get as much playtime as I can and also to keep growing. I have a lot of things that I need to learn to become a complete goalkeeper," he concluded.

Otieno will be hoping to get more minutes in the forthcoming assignments, starting with the game against Vihiga United on Thursday in Vihiga.