Kenyan duo off to a flying start in the Somali Premier League
Patrick Ochieng and Erick Odhiambo joined Somali Premier League side Badbaado FC mid last season
Kenyan defensive duo of Patrick Ochieng and Erick Odhiambo are off to a flying start in the Somali Premier league with a resounding 2-0 victory over Horseed FC, the league’s official opener for the 2024 campaign.
Each garnering the full ninety minutes of the clash, they sent Badbaado FC to the top of the log as other teams await their new year bow this weekend. Ochieng, formerly with Kisumu All Stars, recounts how they landed in Somali’s top flight.
‘’I think we are now well settled. We came in at a time when the team was struggling with relegation issues last season and helped it escape that,’’ he says.
Despite not winning the premiership, a 5th place finish was enough to convince the club supremos of the Kenyans’ input and an extended contract was offered. Badbaado, newcomers to the Somali top flight, played Jazeera FC at the Yorisow Stadium in Mogadishu and looked intent on competing for the ultimate prize this season.
Ochieng managed nine appearances for the side last season, featuring in only two defeats but in the long run ensuring six of show-ups were wins. Badbaado drew only one in the second leg.
He likes the idea of starting on a clean slate.
‘’Given we had to acclimatise when we arrived last year, and finishing 5th, I think this season we start afresh and it’s easier to make arrangements for a title contest this way,’’ he says.
The Somali Premier league has offered opportunities for a few players from the Kenyan top flight and the duo’s entry last year is the latest attempt at exploring a league that is yet to hit a regional scale in terms of competitiveness. Ochieng, however, having played both in the Kenyan second tier and top tier, sees some promise in the Somali league.
‘’We have twelve teams in the premier league so you can imagine the competition being very close. You can lose just one match and drop a massive five of six places down. Alternatively, you can record two consecutive victories and find yourself amongst the leading pack,’’ he continues.
The duo’s knack for positive results have seen them rewarded with plenty of playing time at their newfound home. From their debut last year, they have shown up every match-week on the match day squad. This is something Ochieng does not take for granted.
‘’It’s not that we are better than others here but we realise the level of expectation fans, the management and the technical bench requires of us. It’s all a result of hard work,’’ says the former Kenya U20 defender.
Ochieng was in the ranks of SoNy Sugar during the 2020 FKF Premier League season before moving to Kisumu All Stars and later on Shabana. Odhiambo on the other hand featured immensely for Fortune Sacco FC after leaving Gor Mahia Youth FC.
Badbaado will have to sit out this weekend’s fixtures having already played their opener and wait for match week 2 where Ochieng confidently says they intend to keep their momentum up. They will take on seasoned top flight side Horseed FC on the 26th.
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