The rebirth of Victor ‘Tear Gas’ Abondo
Twice rejected by Tusker and once by Gor Mahia, forward Victor “Tear Gas” Abondo is fast turning out to be the big thing at the Green Army this season.
He is not only flourishing in the free roving role accorded to him by Scot tactician Frank Nuttall but also banging goals at will.
Slender in frame but mighty in spirit, Abondo has this term been gifted with that rare football brain that enables a striker make the right decision at the shortest time span to score the match winning goals.
His most important strike this term, so far, has been the solitary goal from the spot that enabled K’Ogalo subdue CNaPS of Madagascar 1-0 the first leg Caf Champions League preliminary match at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Interestingly, his return to K’Ogalo at the beginning of this term was met with pessimism by the club’s know-it-all fans, who judging by his record at the club in 2012, believed that he was another signing to fill the numbers.
His lacklustre performance at the Ruaraka based Tusker last season seemed to reinforce this argument.
DEAD BALL SPECIALIST
Yet with seven competitive games played so far, plus one a cameo appearance against AC leopards of DR Congo in a Caf Champions league match, the dead ball specialist is fast warming his way to the hearts of fans after notching seven goals in as many appearances.
He scores averagely one goal per match.
Oddly, his nickname “Tear Gas”, emanated from a peculiar scenario – a provocative high boot challenge he made on then AFC Leopards left back Amon Muchiri in March 2012, when Gor clashed with Ingwe in a tempestuous Mashemeji derby .
That tackle earned him a straight red card which proved too a bitter pill to swallow for the Green Army who protested by throwing missiles on to the pitch. The police reacted by tear gassing the fans.
‘TEAR GAS’
It is that cloud of choking fumes that earned Abondo the nickname. To date, in the terraces, Gor fans simply call him “Tear Gas” and not Abondo.
Born on December 12, 1989, in Kisumu, the home area of former club great John ‘Zangi’ Okello, Abondo turned out for Thur Gem High School and was part of the team that was crowned national champions in 2004.
Prior to joining K’Ogalo, he turned out for Palos FC of Kisumu, Sony Sugar, Bandari and Tusker.
His eye for goal and exquisite free kicks made him one of the important pillars in the Gor squad of 2012 which bagged two domestic titles – the FKF Cup and the Top Eight title – under Croat Zdravko Logarusic before he crossed over to Tusker in June 2013.
His stay there was however short-lived, paving way for a reunion with Gor in January.
With his current rich vein of form, his former employers must be watching green with envy.