This archive report was first published on 22 September 2019.
Published on September 22, 2019, a lobby group called Youthful Congress has stepped into the controversy surrounding the injury of national team defender Philemon Otieno, who has been in pain since August 4, 2019.
Philemon Otieno, a reliable right back for both Gor Mahia and the national team, sustained a knee injury during the first round of the 2020 Africa Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier against Tanzania at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Since then, he has neither trained nor played, leaving him in a desperate need of medical attention. The surgery to reconstruct his anterior cruciate ligament is estimated to cost Sh500,000.
However, the dispute over who should cater for his treatment has left him in limbo. Gor Mahia has insisted that it is the responsibility of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to provide for his treatment since he was injured while playing for the national team.
“I wrote a letter to FKF on September 4 on the state of Philemon’s injury and they never bothered to answer. The player needs to be treated urgently because he is suffering and is in pain,” said Gor Mahia CEO Lordvick Aduda.
But FKF has denied any responsibility, stating that it is the prerogative of the player’s club to provide for his medical expenses. “Philemon is a Gor Mahia player and his club should give him treatment. There is no law that says the federation should cater for medical expenses of a player injured while playing for the national team,” explained FKF Acting CEO Barry Otieno.
