Sharks winger elated with comeback 299 days after injury

Kariobangi Sharks winger Patrick Otieno is delighted after returning to action after being sidelined for the better part of the year after undergoing knee surgery to repair a meniscus tear.

The speedy winger had started his season well, even scoring against Bidco United but his season was cut short on January 2, 2021 when he was stretched out in the barren draw against Ulinzi Stars.

What at first seemed a minor injury that would see him stay out for a couple of days turned out to be a first grade tear that forced him to go under the knife in February.

After a lengthy time and a lot of work with the physiotherapist, Otieno made a return to playing football on Wednesday as Sharks fell to Gor Mahia 2-0 at Kasarani Stadium in a rescheduled fixture.

The former Nzoia Sugar player was thankful to all that helped him work on his return, noting that he was motivated to push himself where he could so that he could have a timely return just like the other players who had undergone surgery at around the same time.

"I feel very good being back after such a long time because it has not been easy. What was going on through my mind all that time was to get fit and get back as soon as I could because the other players that I had undergone surgery with were all back so it was giving me the urge to work hard and get back. The club helped me all through since I was injured, they paid for the surgery and have been with me all through the recovery process, and also the team physio has been motivating me all along," Otieno told Mozzart Sport.

He further revealed that his recovery journey has not been all rosy, adding that there are times that he felt like giving up when it seemed like it was the end of playing football for him.

Following his return, Otieno is now focused on putting in more hours in training so that he can catch up with the other players who he believes are a step ahead in terms of match fitness.

"The main challenge I faced was that at some point I felt like I would never get well because sometimes the pain would come back when you thought you were just getting better. Sometimes it appeared as if that was the end of ever playing football. I am aiming to revive the goals that I had at the beginning of the previous season so that I am not very far away from the rest. They are more steps than I am but I am working hard so that I can get to their level," he added.