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Victor Wanyama's journey to the English Premier League with Southampton and Tottenham was not before a stop by Celtic, and Odada completed a move to fellow SPL side Dundee United last weekend.
Harambee Stars midfielder Richard Odada is hopeful his move to Scottish Premier League side Dundee United will elevate him to eventually join the English Premier League, just as it did for Victor Wanyama.
Odada has always looked up to Wanyama drawing inspiration from the trailblazing midfielder who made history as the first Kenyan to play in the English Premier League. He even wears Wanyama’s favorite number 12 shirt for club and country.
Wanyama's move to Southampton from Celtic in 2013 marked a significant milestone for Kenyan football.
His subsequent transfer to Tottenham Hotspur in 2016 solidified his status as a top-tier player and remains the only Kenyan to have played in what is widely regarded as the world's best league. But it would not have been possible without his rise to prominence in the Scottish league.
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17:16 - 27.07.2024
Harambee Stars midfielder Richard Odada explains move to Scottish top flight for Dundee United
Odada has followed in Victor Wanyama's footsteps when he left Belgium for Celtic by joining Scottish top-flight side Dundee United
Odada, who recently joined Dundee United from Philadelphia Union in the US, hopes to follow in Wanyama’s illustrious footsteps. In an interview with The Courier, Odada spoke admiringly of Wanyama's impact on his career.
“Wanyama was the first player to play in the English Premier League from Kenya,” he said. “At the time, I was in elementary school. We all used to watch him and think, 'Wow!' He’s a guy from Kenya who came from a difficult background."
Wanyama’s journey from a humble upbringing to the pinnacle of English football has been a beacon of hope for many young Kenyan players, including Odada. "Everybody in the country was talking about him," Odada added. "He came from a place we know, and he showed us that we could all truly make it.”
Now, as Odada takes his place at Dundee United, he is determined to carve out his own path to the Premier League. The midfielder has already settled in well at his new club, thanks in part to the warm welcome from players from southeastern Europe.
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06:00 - 06.02.2024
STARS ABROAD Harambee Stars midfielder Richard Odada opens up on failed Inter Milan, Juventus moves despite trialing well
Odada trialed at Inter Milan in 2018 and also had trials at Juventus and Parma.
Odada has yet to live up to the potential he showed as a teenager when he managed to do trials with Italian giants Juventus and Inter Milan. However, he is still young enough to elevate himself to those levels should he take advantage of his spell at Dundeel.
Meanwhile Odada has revealed how settling into the club has been streamlined by the presence of other scandanavian players who have helped him settle.
“The boys have been great and really welcoming," Odada noted. "I feel like part of the group already because there are three Balkan guys – two from North Macedonia (Kristijan Trapanovski, David Babunski) and one from Croatia (Vicko Sevelj) – here already. After my experience in Serbia, we speak the same language. I learned it when I was over there.”
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12:32 - 29.07.2024
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The Harambee Stars midfielder and his teammates will now focus on proceding to the playoff round of the 2024 UEFA Europa League by beating Sherrif Tiraspor on Thursday.
With the Dundee derby opener in the Premiership just around the corner, Odada is racing against time to get up to speed. “I have heard about the derby and watched some videos from the past. I am excited to experience that,” he added.
Odada's admiration for Wanyama and his own ambition to play in the Premier League are driving forces as he begins this new chapter in his career.
Like Wanyama, Odada hopes to inspire the next generation of Kenyan footballers and prove that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
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