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The Harambee Stars midfielder's future with Philadelphia Union is under review following the end of his loan spell in Denmark, head coach Jim Curtin has revealed.
Harambee Stars midfielder Richard Odada’s future at Philadelphia Union is under review after completing his loan stint with Danish club AaB Aalborg.
Despite helping Aalborg secure promotion, Odada’s contributions came through limited minutes, and the Danish club opted not to trigger the purchase option on him. Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin has confirmed that discussions regarding Odada’s future will take place soon.
Odada’s time at AaB Aalborg began promisingly, with the midfielder featuring regularly for the team. However, his playing time diminished as the season progressed. Nonetheless, he managed to score four goals and provide one assist in 22 games across all competitions, showcasing his potential when given consistent playing opportunities.
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10:00 - 22.02.2024
STARS ABROAD Richard Odada opens up on his difficult experience at Philadelphia Union, decision to switch to Denmark
The Harambee Stars midfielder opens up on difficult experience in Philadelphia Union and life in AalBorg
Curtin addressed the media about Odada's situation before Philadelphia Union's MLS clash with Cincinnati, stating, "Richard will return at some point. They decided not to purchase him, so he is still a Philadelphia Union player and has not reported back to Philadelphia yet. That will be kind of a fluid process, finding a solution that fits him and the club."
Odada's return comes at a time when Philadelphia Union is dealing with a thin bench due to injuries and players on international duty. Odada himself recently featured prominently for Kenya in their World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast, both of which ended in draws.
Reflecting on his experience with Philadelphia Union, Odada shared his frustrations and aspirations with Pulse Sports. "Everyone wants to play, and at the end of the day, you have to respect the coach’s decision. Your job is just to train hard and try and make an impression," he said.
"It was not a good experience because you wake up, train hard and at the end of the day, you do not make a difference. Growing up as a player, the dream was to play regularly. Playing in the Next Pro was like featuring in friendly matches because I felt I was good enough to play higher."
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07:00 - 09.02.2024
STARS ABROAD Richard Odada reveals lessons learned during four-month trial at Inter Milan
Odada, who once trialed at Inter Milan and Juventus, believes he can return to that level soon considering he has been in stellar form for Danish outfit AaB Fodbold.
Odada's decision to seek regular senior football led him to AaB Aalborg. "Sometimes they would bench me but never play me and it never made sense, which is why I decided to look for another option that would build me as a player because I do not want to make regrets and make excuses," he explained.
As Odada prepares to return to Philadelphia, the club will need to evaluate how he fits into their plans moving forward. Whether he will find a more consistent role within the team or seek another opportunity elsewhere remains to be seen.
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