Simiyu targets premier league promotion with KDF Morans

In 2019, Stephan Simiyu’s prayer of playing in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) premier league was answered when Ulinzi Warriors’ technical bench promoted the 28-year old to the side from division one’s Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Morans, few weeks to the league jump off.

Simiyu, a utility player who can deliver as a small or power forward as well as the occasional big-man duties when called upon was to bring his energy to the then title-chasing Warriors and was ready to help them end their five-year drought. 

Through the harsh design of fate, however, Simiyu was dealt the unfortunate circumstance of being diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, Pulmonary Embolism, a condition that meant his debut in the top tier league had to be put on hold. 

“I got hit on my back during a league match in the 2018 season and I did not think much of it. I treated it as a normal injury little did I know it would put me out for an entire season. When we resumed training for the 2019 season, I started having breathing problems and any strenuous exercise became impossible. The condition escalated and I remember being rushed to a city hospital, out of breath. After tests and scans the clots on my right lung were discovered,” explains Simiyu. 

He was transferred to Defence Forces Memorial hospital after the diagnosis and had to undergo two months of in-patient anticoagulants (blood thinners) medications and an extra month under observation at home before he could go back to performing any strenuous physical activity. 

“That experience was a lesson not to ignore even the slightest of injuries, and I count myself lucky to have come back to playing. It was disappointing that I missed out on playing for Warriors in the season they won a league title. I kept thinking maybe that was my only chance but I took it in stride and found comfort in the fact that my condition was caught in time. Who knows what could have happened,” Simuyu offers. 

The Malava Boys alumnus, who started out as a handball player before switching to basketball in his third year of school, joined KDF immediately after school. During the 2015 annual inter-brigade competition he was spotted and got a call up to the KBF division one side, KDF Morans. 

Stephan Simiyu (right) posses for a photo with Warriors' captain Eric Mutoroh (C) and KDF Morans' guard Humprey Aura

“I am back and was handed the Morans’ armband and I have vowed to guide the team to play in the premier league. At some point during my recovery journey, I thought my basketball journey was done. This is a condition that has seen some basketballers playing in the highest leagues globally hang their boots. I had a golfer friend go through the same and he had to stop playing. I have had people ask me how I overcame such a serious condition and get back to the court and I cannot think of a better answer than it being God’s grace. I want to make this chance count.”  

He has led his charges to three wins in four matches, going down to Zetech and hopes a top place finish in the regular league will hand them a chance to play in the top tier league next season. “It will be a dream come true for me.”

Risk Factors for Blood Clots in Athletes (As written by UVM Medical Center) 

Athletes who use their arms heavily, like tennis players, baseball pitchers and basketball players, are at risk of clots involving the arm veins. These clots can occur when a structure at the base of the neck next to the shoulder called the thoracic outlet is narrowed. The vein, artery and nerve supplying the arm has to pass through this outlet, which is lined by muscles and bony structures. 

For athletes, especially those using their arms, the muscles can get large and contribute to the narrowing of the outlet. In this situation, repetitive injury to the vein going through that narrowed outlet sets the stage for a clot forming in the vein. These clots can cause swelling and pain of the arm, and sometimes numbness. Like leg clots, they can travel to the lungs causing pulmonary embolism. Treatment is with anticoagulant medications and often surgery is used to open up the outlet so that clots might not form again.  

Injuries are a major source of risk for clots, especially leg injuries that result in leg immobility afterwards. The worst example of this is a leg fracture with casting. However, minor injuries also can increase the risk somewhat; this is likely a factor for hockey players as they often get hit by the puck. 

Surgery greatly increases the risk of blood clots for a period of several weeks. The risk is greater for orthopedic than general surgery, so it is a factor for athletes. In 2013, NBA Star Anderson Varejao's great season with the Cavaliers was cut short when he developed back and chest pain from a PE shortly after surgery on his quadriceps. His case proved that this condition doesn’t have to end a sports career.