Ulinzi Stars will be without two players for this weekend’s Kenya Premier League clash against Sony Sugar. The team lost 2-1 to Mathare United on matchday 3 which left them ninth on the log.
The Doctor’s Injury Report as the team resumed training on Tuesday 24 September has skipper James Saruni and midfielder Ibrahim Shambi listed among the players set to miss the weekend clash.
Saruni, who was not in the squad for the loss to Mathare United, is set for about a month out with a chip fracture on his left ankle as revealed by Team Doctor John Imboywa, while Shambi, a starter in the Mathare loss, has a calcareous spur on his left heel and is set to be out for a week.
“Both players are under observation already; as for Shambi, he will not be out for long but Saruni will spend at least four weeks out,” the medical report is quoted on the club’s official website.
In some good news on the injury front for coach Benjamin Nyangweso, he will be able to select Brian Birgen who had to spend the last 4 weeks out with an ankle injury.
“Brian is finishing his therapy and has shown very good progress. Probably after one week he will be back in training,” the statement added.
Brian’s return will boost coach Nyangweso’s options in the right-back position, especially now that the other available right back, Cyril Nasiali, who made an appearance on the bench on Match Day 1, is out with a calf muscle sprain and is still under observation.
Defender Omar Mbongi, who is yet to feature thi season, should be fit enough for the weekend clash, having recovered from injury and a bout of malaria in the earlier stages of the season.