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Odongo was the top goalscorer for the Talanta Hela U-19 boys’ side at the Costa Daurada tournament and also scored a hat-trick in their last friendly match against Eldense FC.
Ismael Odongo, a 17-year-old striker from Ebwali High School in Vihiga County, showcased his talent and determination on Monday as Talanta Hela U19 boys secured a thrilling 4-2 victory over Spanish side Eldense FC in a friendly match at the Nastic Training Ground in Spain.
The victory came as a redemption for the Kenyan youngsters after suffering a 5-1 defeat to Spanish lower-tier side CD Castellon just a few days prior.
Odongo proved to be the star of the match, delivering a stellar performance with a remarkable hat-trick, earning him the title of the game's man of the match.
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08:34 - 29.03.2024
FOOTBALL Talanta Hela All-Star boys clinch cup in Spain as girls fall short at last hurdle
Talanta Hela U-19 boys cruised to tournament victory as girls were downed by a Portuguese outfit at the last hurdle.
The opening goal of the match came in the 19th minute when Ismael Odhiambo capitalized on Samuel Indonyi's corner kick, heading the ball into the net to give Talanta Hela U19 boys an early lead.
The first half ended with the Kenyan side maintaining their one-goal advantage.
In the final half, Odongo took center stage, scoring three impressive goals in the 60th, 65th, and 74th minutes to secure the victory for his team.
Despite his stellar performance, Odongo expressed dissatisfaction with his performance, stating that he aimed to score even more goals during the match.
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07:08 - 21.03.2024
FOOTBALL Nick Mwendwa reveals plan to adopt European youth football structure in Kenya
FKF president Nick Mwendwa has announced plans to implement a full-time youth team naming policy following the naming of the current Rising Stars squad.
"The game has been good. We came to learn. At least today I have scored three goals. It motivates me to score more goals in the future. Scoring is my job. That is why I pushed myself to the limit to propel the team to higher levels," Odongo stated.
Reflecting on his performance, Odongo revealed his ambition to continue improving and surpassing his own expectations in future matches.
"I have not achieved my dreams. My target was to score many goals but it has already happened. Next time I will score many goals. This tournament had limited matches, so I did not perform well. If I played enough time, I would have scored even 12 goals," he added.
The talented striker expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Sports through the Kenya Academy of Sports for the opportunity to participate in the Spain tour, emphasizing the invaluable lessons he learned during the experience.
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06:09 - 28.03.2024
Rising Stars coach Akhulia breaks silence after Four-Nations tournament
Kenya U20's stand-in head coach Anthony Akhulia has opened up in a rare statement days after the team's loss at the Four Nations Tournament in Malawi.
"I have learned a lot like discipline, timekeeping, and being at our best. If we follow the coaches' instructions, it will be good. They are experienced and help us grow," Odongo remarked.
Report supplied by Taby Nashipae
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