Paul Okatwa Odhiambo is a former Kenyan striker who until recently was the head coach at Kenyan National Super League side Nairobi United.[1]

Paul Okatwa Odhiambo
Personal information
Full name Paul Okatwa Odhiambo
Date of birth (1992-01-24) 24 January 1992 (age 32)
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010-2011 A.F.C. Leopards 18 (0)
2012 Oserian F.C. 11 (2)
2012 Posta Rangers 8 (0)
2013 Kakamega Homeboyz 12 (3)
2013-2014 Gor Mahia F.C. 7 (0)
2014Western Stima (loan) 26 (3)
2015 Ushuru F.C. 1 (0)
2015-2016 Muhoroni Youth F.C. 14 (0)
2016-2017 Sofapaka 27 (4)
2017-18 Tusker F.C. 17 (0)
2018 Posta Rangers 7 (0)
2018-19 Mt. Kenya United 9 (0)
2019 Nairobi City Stars 7 (0)
2020-21 FC Talanta 5 (0)
Managerial career
2021-22 Kangemi All Stars (Head Coach)
2022-23 Nairobi United (Head Coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Okwatwa was often referred to as a journeyman having turned out for eleven Kenyan Premier League clubs between the years 2010 and 2019. The list includes A.F.C. Leopards,[2] Oserian F.C.,[3]Posta Rangers, Kakamega Homeboyz,[4] Gor Mahia F.C.,[5]Western Stima,[6][7] Ushuru F.C., Muhoroni Youth F.C., Sofapaka,[8] Tusker F.C.[9] and Mt. Kenya United.

Playing career edit

Okatwa started his top-flight journey as a teenager at A.F.C. Leopards but after two of three seasons was released. At the start of the 2012 season, Okatwa moved to Naivasha-based Oserian F.C. where he lasted six months[10] before joining Posta Rangers for the rest of the year.

At the beginning of the 2013 season, Okatwa moved to the newly promoted premiership side Kakamega Homeboyz[11][12] but mid-season he was back in Nairobi to join Gor Mahia F.C. For the 2014 season, he was sent to Western Stima[13] [14] on a season-long deal.[15]

In 2015 he joined Ushuru F.C.[16] but quit after a less than three months.[17] In June he switched to Muhoroni Youth for the remainder[18] of the season. He was released by the club in March of 2016[19] with three months left on his contract.

He joined Sofapaka in June 2016 and after a year he joined Tusker F.C. in June of 2017[20] on a three-year deal. In June of 2018, Okwatwa returned to Posta Rangers after six years[21] on a three-year deal but only lasted five months[22] till November of that year. He then opted to join his final top-flight workstation Nakumatt FC.

After years in the Premier League, Okatwa stepped down to join Nairobi City Stars in the second tier in April 2019 for a two-month stint till the end of the 2018-19 season. Thereafter, and after some time out due to injury, he joined another second-tier side FC Talanta in 2020.

Coaching career edit

In July 2021, he started his coaching journey after joining relegation-threatened Kangemi All-Stars[23] while in the Kenyan third-tier league. He called it a day from the club after losing a promotion play-off from the Kenyan third tier to the second tier to Kona Rangers.

He later took over as head coach of another third-tier side Nairobi United[24] whom he promoted after winning a playoff[25][26] 1-0 over Zoo FC from Kericho. In December 2023, Okatwa parted ways with the club.

References edit

  1. ^ The Star, 2 Jan2, 024 Okatwa leaves National Super League outfit Nairobi United
  2. ^ Futaa, 7 Sep 2011 Odhiambo back for Leopards
  3. ^ Michezo Afrika, 21 Jan 2012 Former Leopards’ striker settles at Oserian
  4. ^ Futaa, 24 Jan 2013 Paul Odhiambo happy with Homeboyz move
  5. ^ Michezo Afrika, 18 Jun 2013 Former AFC Leopards striker joins Gor Mahia
  6. ^ Futaa, 21 Dec 2014 Odhiambo to make his decision in January
  7. ^ Futaa, 2 Feb 2014 Kiplangat, Paul Odhiambo the biggest Stima captures
  8. ^ Futaa, 13 May 2017 Odhiambo on target as Sofapaka claw Chemelil
  9. ^ Futaa, 8 Jun 2017 Tusker snap out of contract Sofapaka attacker
  10. ^ Michezo Afrika, 20 Jun 2012 Ex-Ingwe man Paul Odhiambo quits Oserian
  11. ^ Michezo Afrika, 10 Mar 2013 Homeboyz striker impressed with team despite defeat
  12. ^ Futaa, 19 Jun 2013 Odhiamb should have made hay at Homeboyz
  13. ^ Standard, 14 Jan 2014 FOOTBALL: Paul Odhiambo joins Western Stima on loan from Gor
  14. ^ Futaa, 22 Feb 2014 Paul Odhiambo starts against Tusker
  15. ^ Futaa, 26 Nov 2014 Odhiambo free to seek new club
  16. ^ Futaa, 4 Jan 2015 Ushuru signs two more
  17. ^ Goal, 17 Mar 2015 Ushuru in turmoil as two players terminate contracts
  18. ^ Futaa, 16 Oct 2015 Injury boost for Muho ahead of Ushuru
  19. ^ Futaa, 24 Mar 2016 Adagala confirms player's contract termination
  20. ^ Futaa, 1 Sep 2017 Odhiambo explains Tusker switch: start to life at league champions
  21. ^ Michezo Afrika, 12 Jun 2018 Posta Rangers confirm capture of trio
  22. ^ Futaa, 3 Nov 2018 Seven dropped as Posta Rangers shapes for new campaign
  23. ^ Tisini, 13 May 2022 Paul Okatwa: The Journeyman Behind Kangemi All Stars Transformation
  24. ^ Mozzart Sport, 28 Nov 2023 Nairobi United boss Paul Okatwa heaps praise on magnificent Ouma
  25. ^ Mozzart Sport, 1 Aug, 2023 Okatwa sets sights on NSL promotion, undeterred by last season's play-off setback
  26. ^ Standard, 17 Aug 2023 How Odhiambo led Nairobi United to NSL

External links edit