Austin 'Makamu' Oduor: The loss of a football legend

The 1987 Gor Mahia’s Mandela Cup winning captain Austin ‘Makamu’ Oduor is dead.

Oduor, who also skippered the Harambee Stars squad that clinched silver medal in the 1987 All Africa Games after losing to Egypt in the final, died at Oasis Hospital in Kakamega County on Tuesday night. He was 65 years old.

His wife Pamela Oduor said her husband collapsed at their home in Makunga, Navakholo Sub county in Kakamega and was resuscitated before being rushed to the hospital.

He died three hours later after arriving at the hospital at 7pm.

“After resuscitation, we rushed him to hospital and put on oxygen on arrival and was pronounced dead three hours later,” Pamela told Standard Sports.

“His death is a surprise to us as a family because Austin was never seriously sick and had been on normal medication for cold,” said Pamela who hails from Gem but was married to Oduor who comes from Umira Kager clan in Ugenya.

Oduor’s great grandparents settled in Navakholo constituency in Kakamega.

Oduor hailed from a great footballing family; his brothers Gerald and Anthony were defenders at Tusker while his son Arnold Otieno Origi featured for Harambee Stars for almost a decade as a goalkeeper.

He was the elder brother to former Harambee Stars’ talisman Mike Okoth, the father of Belgian international Divock Origi.

Oduor’s younger brother Anthony Origi said they are waiting for a medical report before releasing an official statement. His body is lying at Aga Khan Hospital mortuary in Kisumu.

“My brother was sick for a very short period. He was on drugs when he collapsed before being rushed to hospital on Monday night. Unfortunately, he died a few hours later,” said Origi.

Oduor’s last public function was in a football Community Social Responsibility activity in Siaya last weekend.

At the club level, Austin Oduor is a legend in Gor Mahia’s class of the 1980s together with goalkeeper Dan Odhiambo, defenders John Bobby Ogolla, Mike ‘Machine’ Ogolla, midfielders Allan Thigo and Jerry Imbo and striker George ‘Best’ Yoga among others.

Their fame was spread to all the corners of Kenya through the then Voice of Kenya radio.

Oduor joined Gor Mahia from Umeme Sportiff in 1980 and played in almost all positions save for the goalkeeping thereby deputising key players in their positions.

And that’s how he earned the nickname ‘Makamu’ (deputy in Kiswahili).

When he arrived at Gor Mahia, he served most spells on the bench but occasionally got a chance to play when the regulars were unavailable.

“It was the reason he earned the name ‘Makamu’,” said one of the club legends.

In his first season with Gor in 1980, he won the East and Central Africa Club Championship after beating their archrivals AFC Leopards 3-2 in an all-Kenya final in Blantyre, Malawi. He repeated the same feat in Khartoum, Sudan five years later.

Oduor was always on hand should the need arise and showed great patience and respect for his teammates.

”He was a key pillar to our family and a servant to the children and his younger siblings. God is the answer to all these. All will be well.  May his soul Rest in Eternal Peace,” said Pamela.

Former Gor Mahia midfielder Sammy ‘Kempes’ Owino sent a message of condolences to the family of the fallen legend. Owino revealed that he played a key role in his move to Gor Mahia.

“My sincere condolences to the family and friends of my friend and brother Austin Oduor. May God grant you peace that surpasses understanding. May his soul rest in peace.  He will be dearly missed by so many,” said Owino who is a presidential aspirant in the upcoming FKF elections.

“I’m really saddened by Oduor’s death. I’m the one who recommended and brought him to Gor Mahia because I knew he would be a great player.”

Oduor leaves behind a widow Pamela Aoko Oduor and six children.