Mathare United trio ruled out of season opener
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 18.09.25. | 22:00
The midfielder suffered a patella tendon injury in his right knee during pre-season and has been ruled out of contention for Monday’s clash
Mathare United will begin their 2025/26 league campaign without three key players after the club confirmed fresh injury concerns ahead of their season opener against Posta Rangers on Monday, 22 September, at Kasarani Annex.
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The Slum Boys will be without midfielder Musa Masika, defender Fidel Otieno, and long-term absentee Boaz Maeri.
Their absence is an early setback for head coach John Kamau, who is determined to guide the 2008 league champions to a stronger start compared to last season’s slow opener.
Masika, who made a big impression during the second leg of last season, having joined from Gor Mahia during the mid-season transfer window, was expected to play a central role this term.
However, the midfielder suffered a patella tendon injury in his right knee during pre-season and has been ruled out of contention for Monday’s clash.
Otieno’s situation adds to the club’s concerns at the back. The defender sustained a hairline fracture to his right shin during training last weekend and is set to miss up to four weeks of action.
For Maeri, patience remains the key. The defender has been out for nearly ten months after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in November last year.
While he has resumed light training and begun integrating with the squad, the medical team insists he is not yet ready for competitive action.
“Injury updates are part of football, but the encouraging news is that Boaz is back on the pitch,” said club physio Ambrose Oriko.
“Recovering from an ACL tear is never easy, and we must give him time to regain full fitness before returning to match action.”
The 1998 domestic cup champions will be keen to avoid a repeat of last season’s poor start, when they suffered heavy 4-0 twin defeats against AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia before finally registering their first victory in the fifth round, winning 1-0 against Bidco United.
Their opponents, Posta Rangers, will also be targeting a strong start after narrowly preserving their top-flight status last season by edging Naivas FC 2-1 on aggregate in the two-legged Promotion/Relegation Playoff.
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