This archive report was first published on 9 May 2020.
Philemon Otieno, a 27-year-old defender for Gor Mahia, has been sidelined for over eight months due to an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury he sustained in August 2019 while playing for Harambee Stars in a 2020 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Tanzania at Kasarani stadium.
Although he underwent surgery in 2019, the injury has been a significant setback for Otieno, who was on course to making a comeback to K'Ogalo in March before the coronavirus pandemic brought sports activities in the country to a halt.
"This is the longest time I have been out of action due to injury. I have always been absent for a few weeks but this injury was quite serious and I had to accept what had happened," Otieno said.
With the indefinite suspension of the 2019-2020 Kenyan Premier League season, Otieno was forced to wait longer for his much-awaited return. However, he has been using the break to work towards his recovery, training from home and seeing a physiotherapist once or twice a week.
"The absence of football has affected me a lot but it is also a blessing since I can now fully concentrate on regaining fitness without the pressure of competition," he says.
Earlier this year, Otieno extended his Gor Mahia contract for two more years, a decision he says was informed by his injury setback. He felt that it would be difficult for people elsewhere to understand his situation and that's why he decided to spend two more years at Gor.
Now, Otieno is keen on coming back stronger from the injury layoff that threatened to ruin his career.
