Harambee Stars captain set for lengthy spell out with injury

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga is expected to be out of action for eight weeks due to injury, his club has confirmed.

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Qatari side Al Arabi on Thursday, 2 April finally lifted the lid on the status of the striker, indicating in a brief report that he had suffered a pelvic injury, and undergone successful surgery.

“Our player, Michael Olunga, suffered a pelvic injury. He underwent successful surgery this morning in Paris, France,” Al Arabi’s medical report read.

“The player is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks, during which time he will undergo a rehabilitation program under the supervision of the club's medical staff.”

Olunga has been out of club and national team action since Friday, 13 March, when he was substituted off in the first half of Al Arabi’s 1-1 draw with Al Ahli Doha at the Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium.

Then, Olunga, who was making a return to his team’s starting eleven for the first time since 5 February, was hooked off after only 37 minutes, raising questions about his health.

With little to no update coming from the club, it took till the international break for some clarity to emerge, when the 32-year-old was omitted from Benni McCarthy’s squad to the 2026 FIFA Series in Rwanda due to “injury”.

Al Arabi’s confirmation effectively means Olunga’s season is over, with the timelines projecting his absence to last till the final week of May, when the Qatar Stars League campaign will be long over.

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Al Arabi’s last game of the season against Al Rayyan is scheduled for 28 April.

Praised for his availability, Olunga’s recent setback is set to be his longest spell on the sidelines, even as he remains a goal shy of becoming Kenya’s joint-record goal scorer.

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Olunga’s tally for Harambee Stars currently stands at 34, one behind all-time leader William "Chege" Ouma.

Al Arabi return to league action on Friday, 3 April against Al Shahaniya at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.