After being one of the shining lights in the Harambee Stars team that reached the quarter finals of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) on home soil, goalkeeper Byrne Omondi made a switch in clubs, joining record Premier League champions Gor Mahia.
Omondi had played for Coastal side Bandari FC for the past two seasons, but a move to Gor was sealed within no time, just after the end of the CHAN tournament.
The keeper, nicknamed ‘Bayo’, is one whose journey is a testament of hard work, patience and sheer grit.
Today, Omondi stands tall as Kenya’s undisputed number one goalkeeper, a position earned not by chance, but through relentless work and an unwavering hunger for success.
Omondi’s rise has been as inspiring as it has been swift. Breaking through the ranks when he started out as an 18-year old with Tusker FC, he soon found himself thrust into the national spotlight, showing maturity beyond his years and a fearlessness that caught the eye of both fans and coaches.
His shot-stopping heroics, command of the backline, and calmness under pressure have been key in establishing himself as Kenya’s number one, a position the country struggled to find a consistent figure in for years.
But with every step forward came its own set of challenges; from competition for game time, to the pressure of meeting expectations. Omondi has endured it all with a quiet determination, rising above doubts and constantly refining his craft.
It’s that mindset that has made him one of Kenya’s most trusted and respected custodians today.
Wearing the green and white of Gor Mahia comes with the weight of history, while the Harambee Stars jersey carries the hopes of millions. Omondi has embraced both with pride, evolving into a leader on the pitch and a guardian of dreams off it.
And now, the keeper speaks one on one exclusively to Telecomasia.net, revealing that his biggest drive to join Gor was his hunger and desire to win the FKF Premier League title after slightly close to a decade in the top flight.
The 28-year-old reflects on his remarkable journey; the sacrifices, the breakthrough moments, and the ambitions still burning bright.
From chasing opportunities as a young goalkeeper hungry to prove himself, to standing firm as Kenya’s top choice between the posts, this is the story of a man who fought his way to the summit, and is determined to stay there.
- It has been three games so far at Gor Mahia. How has the experience been?
- It has been great so far. I have managed to play full minutes and keeping three consecutive clean sheets has been the cherry on top. It is a great club and like a huge family. Being here has been brilliant both on and off the field. The perfomances from everyone has been encouraging and I can say it is a great start to my time at the club.
The competition has been cut throat but healthy. We are three good goalkeepers here with Gad (Mathews) and Saha (Kevin Omondi) both of who have won the golden glove and we keep pushing each other, and ensuring we are at our best. The bonding between the three of us has also been brilliant and the togetherness we have is a huge encouragement.
- A question that everyone is asking, is why Gor?
- Gor Mahia is a big team and the competition is brilliantly high. As a player, you always want to go where you will be challenged to be better. This is a team that is fighting for the league title every season and there is no room to compromise. This was the biggest attraction for me to join the team. I have played in the Premier League for almost 10 years and I have never won the Premier League. Joining Gor is a massive opportunity for me to try and do this and achieve my first ever league title.
- You have joined the team where pressure is a norm, and the national team is the same case. How do you deal with this as a player?
- The pressure is always there as a player. Yes, at Gor and the national team is always higher. At this point, it has increased as well because there is huge expectation from everyone based on the performance we put in at CHAN. Everyone expects you to have a good game and that is pressure on my end to always perform. There are some bad days in office but the fans never think about this. But, I always keep calm and my own ambition to always do well helps me. I have also gained experience over the years and this helps me deal with the pressure always.
- You have mentioned CHAN and how it helped put you on the map. Just how big was it to you players?
- CHAN was a really great experience. Everyone who was in that team can attest the same; it was the best national team experience. We performed really well and despite the fact that we didn’t attain what we had targeted, we pushed really well and it gave us an opportunity to show what we can do individually and as a team. It was a memorable and life changing experience for me. CHAN changed my life. I carry with it some great memories including being man of the match in our win against Morocco, a match that everyone was saying we would lose.
If you look at most players who were playing at CHAN, they are now regulars in the senior national team. CHAN also opened doors for us because most players made good moves after the tournament. Omija (Alphonce) and Ogam (Ryan) have moved abroad while some of us have also moved locally.
- How has your journey been to get to this place? You started off young and now you have grown to a man.
- It hasn’t always been easy. I started off straight from High School when I joined Tusker FC and I never played for that whole season. It was rather expected though because I was coming into a team which had very experienced goalkeepers and it was going to be difficult to break through. I went on loan for the second season but it was still the same story. I really struggled for playing time then. But, my breakthrough came when I joined Mathare United. As much as it was a difficult season because of monetary issues which affected on field performance of the team, that is where I really started getting more playing time and it earned me a move to KCB, where I now grew more. I not only played more matches but also got my first ever call up to the national team.
Looking back, I can say it was never an easy journey. I had to be patient a lot, persevere and at the same time work harder.
- Now that the journey has brought you top of the pile, what are your ambitions with Gor Mahia and the national team as well?
- With Gor Mahia, my ambition is simple; to win the Premier League title this season. I believe that we have a good team and if we fight together, we will achieve that. In the national team, I hope to keep cementing my place. This requires constant work because there is very huge and healthy competition. You cannot afford to let your guard down.
The long term target as well with the national team is the AFCON in 2027 which we will be hosting. It is just two years away but my dream is to make the team for the AFCON. I am still pushing myself and I want to keep working hard to maintain my form and shape to see to it that I fight to be in that team. Just like CHAN, it would be an honour to play on such a stage on home soil. I can’t say I will start preparing for it next year; I start now. I hope to be there to make more history and memories.
- Any long term goals you have?
- My dream remains to play outside Africa. The good thing about being a goalkeeper is that we can play well into advanced ages. I am 28 at the moment and I know I still have many years left in me. I want to achieve that dream and I will work hard, push myself to make it a reality.
- Finally, who are some of the goalkeepers that you look up to and motivate you in your journey?
- I have played with really good and experienced keepers in my career, but one who stands out for me and is my role model is Duncan Ochieng. When I joined Tusker FC, he was the number one keeper despite being in his sunset years. He was well advanced in age, but still worked hard like a youth. He pushed himself in training and was very committed. I like the way he commanded his backline, his dedication to working in training and how he pushed himself. I would look at him and get motivation. For me, he is the reason I kept working because he was always motivating me to work hard, remain patient and always reassured me that my time would come. He is one person who I credit much to where I am now.
Internationally, I look up to Liverpool’s Allison Becker. I like his style of play, his demeanor and just how he carries the team forward and his one v one save ratio is one of the best I have seen.
