Both Richard Odada and Jonah Ayunga, key players for the Harambee Stars, endured disappointing performances in the Scottish Premiership on January 5, 2025. Their respective clubs, Dundee United and St. Mirren, faced tough challenges, with Odada struggling in a rare starting role and Ayunga unable to make a significant impact as his team suffered a heavy defeat.
Richard Odada, who had only started one previous league match in the past six months since his move from Philadelphia Union, was given a rare opportunity to start for Dundee United in their clash against Hearts. Unfortunately, his performance was far from impressive. The 22-year-old midfielder failed to find his rhythm, struggling with just 44% passing accuracy and a single successful ground duel from three attempts. While he did fare better in aerial duels, winning three out of five, his overall contribution to the match left much to be desired.
Dundee United, who had hoped for a positive result, were unable to capitalize on the rare opportunity given to Odada. Their hopes of securing a point were dashed in the 73rd minute when Hearts scored the only goal of the match. A scrappy sequence saw Adam Forrester’s header find Liam Boyce, whose attempt was mishit, but James Penrice was quick to pounce on the loose ball at the back post and fire home the winner. This defeat marked another disappointing result for Dundee United, who have been struggling in the league this season.
Odada’s limited minutes on the pitch have been a concern since his move to Dundee United, with an average of just 22 minutes per game in his two starts. His performance against Hearts will undoubtedly be a setback in his bid to earn more playing time and make a greater impact at his new club.
Meanwhile, Jonah Ayunga, who came off the bench for St. Mirren in their match against Celtic, also had a tough afternoon. Despite his best efforts, Ayunga was unable to make much of an impact against a dominant Celtic side. The Kenyan forward completed only three of his 11 pass attempts and won three out of five ground duels. His performance was far from the level expected, and St. Mirren were thoroughly outclassed by Celtic, who extended their lead at the top of the table to 13 points.
Celtic, coming off a midweek derby loss to Rangers, were in excellent form. They opened the scoring in the 33rd minute through Nicolas Kuhn, who finished off a swift counter-attack. The hosts doubled their lead just before halftime when Auston Trusty scored his first Celtic goal, heading in from an Arne Engels corner. Kuhn sealed the victory in the second half with a close-range finish, completing a commanding 3-0 win for Celtic.
For Ayunga, it was a match to forget as his team struggled to contain the attacking force of Celtic. St. Mirren’s defeat was a heavy one, and Ayunga will need to regroup and improve his performance in future matches if he is to help his side bounce back.
Both Odada and Ayunga will be hoping for better fortunes in their next outings as they continue to adjust to life in the Scottish Premiership.
