I am lucky to kick the ball again says Mathare defender

Mathare United centre back Harun Junior considers himself lucky to be walking without the aid of crutches and kicking the ball again after more than a year out nursing career-threatening injuries.

Harun who resumed training six weeks ago suffered a double blow when he tore his right leg meniscus and further suffered a grade three rip up of Anterior Cruciate Ligament in a league encounter against Sofapaka in February last year.

The promising central defender’s patience stood the test of time as he waited for a year to have a date with the surgeon early this year and later began his rehabilitation exercises.

Harun who was named on the bench in their 6-0 humiliation in the hands of Kariobangi Sharks last Sunday at Kasarani Annex says the multiple tears immobilized his limp and nearly cut short his career.

“Life turned for the worst when I got injured as I didn’t get treatment on time and things got worse when coronavirus disrupted the sporting calendar. I had to learn how to walk again as the injury was bad considering that the surgery was delayed. The injury helped me appreciate good health more and the opportunity to play football,” he said.

Harun who joined the 2008 league winners in 2017 from Shanzu United is glad to have towered over the setback and returned to the pitch even as he dreams of helping the club meet its targets. The hard tackling defender who considers Andrew Juma as the best central defence pair he has ever played with said he was doubling his efforts to earn playing time.

“It feels good to be back after a long spell out. The club stood with me at the eleventh hour and I can only repay by fighting for the badge on the pitch. I am working hard to get some playing time in the coming matches,” he said.

Meanwhile, the former Nairobi Stima defender who renewed his contract for another year thanked the club doctor Wycliffe Omom and teammates as well as his family for offering him a shoulder to lean on for the time he was injured.