Murang’a Seal goalkeeper Austin Omondi is drawing on a life shaped by hardship to navigate the disappointment of his late omission from the Kenya U20 squad.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsAt just 19, the young custodian has already walked a long road to get to the point where he could dream of representing his country.His journey started on the streets before a well-wisher intervened and helped him find a more stable life.That new chapter did not immediately lead to football.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945635##After leaving the streets and settling in Kisumu, the former Michael Olunga Football Academy (MOFA) goalkeeper turned to fishing on Lake Victoria as he sought to fend for himself, balancing life on the lake with his growing passion for the game.The fisherman eventually discovered that he could also keep balls out of nets.The Rising Stars call-up therefore represented a significant milestone for a player who once had no certainty that football would take him anywhere.The goalkeeper was among the players called up by Kenya U20 head coach Gilbert Selebwa ahead of the CECAFA U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Tanzania.Abud Omar on how delayed league kick-off is hurting FKF Premier LeagueHe even made the final squad that was set to battle for a place at the 2027 CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.His dream, however, was cut short at the final hurdle. A message, seen by Mozzart Sport, informed the player that he had been dropped from the squad because he did not have a valid passport.The communication came only hours before the deadline for passport submission.The disappointment was inevitable, but the youngster says his past has taught him not to allow setbacks to define his journey.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945933##“Getting into the national team is a big honour despite the challenges that were there. At least I have made a step that I never knew would come,” he told Mozzart Sport.His reaction is rooted in experiences that have forced him to confront adversity from a young age.“Looking at my football life, I started as a fisherman on the lake. I moved from the lake, and at one point I nearly quit football. My lifestyle has shown me a lot at a young age. I was once in the streets, so I learnt to push myself to the limit. Then one day someone got me off the streets and stood with me for quite some time,” he added.Tusker assistant captain rues costly mistakes in disappointing draw against Al Ahli MadaniAfter the transformation that took him away from street life, he moved to Kisumu, where he found himself turning to the lake for survival.That period became another chapter in an unusual football journey as he combined fishing with training and gradually developed his goalkeeping abilities.“From that point, I managed to take care of myself while also balancing training and fishing. I used to train with a local team in Kisumu known as Rotter United. They played in Division Two, and they helped me step up,” he said.The challenges of those formative years have since become part of his armour, giving him the perspective to absorb disappointments without losing sight of the bigger picture.Harambee Stars winger breaks Alexander Isak's record after scoring first LaLiga goal“Life has its challenges and lessons to pick from. Those challenges pushed me to the limit,” he said.Even after committing himself to football, there was no guarantee that the sport would provide him with a career.That belief began to change when he earned an opportunity with Leads United of Nairobi.“I realised I could make it in football when I was called by Leads United. When I got that chance, I knew I could also do it. Again, at Leads I did not stay long like the majority of people,” he explained.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945978##“You know, if you go to Leads, you can even take up to seven years before leaving, but with me I took half a season, especially after my progress in one of the tournaments. After becoming Nairobi champions and national champions in Kisumu, that is when I got a call-up to MOFA.”The move to MOFA gave him another opportunity to prove that his rise was not a flash in the pan.He joined the National Super League (NSL) side as the fourth-choice goalkeeper, but refused to allow his age or position in the pecking order to determine his fate.“MOFA called me as a fourth-choice goalkeeper. When I got there, I fought my way up because they told me I was young and had more time, which I accepted. At MOFA, when I got a chance, I showed up and established myself as a first choice,” he said.5 foreign-based players included in Kenya's U20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers squadThe opportunity soon turned into regular football. He featured extensively during the first leg and at the start of the second phase, keeping clean sheets and establishing himself as one of the familiar faces among NSL followers.That form eventually earned him the call from the national team, taking his journey from the streets and the shores of Lake Victoria to the Kenya U20 camp.Although the final omission was painful, he refuses to view it as the end of the road.“I accepted the omission because I saw it as a step for me. To my fans they may see it as a disappointment, but to me, the first day I got a call up to the national team I knew this is something I can do,” he said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945649##“When I was going, I never knew I could be part of the 25-man squad. I found established keepers there, but I pushed myself. Even when the final list was being mentioned, I was really surprised to be part of it.“But now as things go on, I have discovered that the more I work, the more things become easier for me, and I will continue the same way.”Rather than dwell on what might have been in Tanzania, the teenager is turning his attention to a new challenge with Murang’a Seal as he prepares for his first season in the top flight.The move represents another step in a journey that has already taken him through some of the most difficult chapters of his young life.Mokwena keeps Pyramids tactics under wraps ahead of second leg against Gor Mahia“I feel happy. It is a good move. I just want to feel the challenge because, going by the training sessions, I feel better every day, and I think my chances of playing are high,” he concluded.
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