AFC Leopards winger Jaffari Owiti will be sidelined for at least nine months after belatedly undergoing a right knee surgery last week on Thursday at the Guru Nanak Hospital.The speedster suffered the career threatening injury in June while in action against Tusker in a Football Kenya Federation Cup quarterfinal tie staged at the Ruaraka grounds.Owiti came out early this month to appeal to his employer and well wishers to help him raise Ksh 350 000 for the surgery meant to rectify his meniscus and torn Anterior Cruciate Ligaments.Ingwe coach Patrick Aussems is not concerned with the absence of Jaffari Owiti and Marvin Nabwire who are reportedly back in the country after trials in Nigeria https://t.co/R9OoujKnJi— Mozzart Sport Kenya (@MozzartSportKe) May 23, 2021 The former national U23 said that the club heard his cry and helped me go under the knife and subsequently began the process of healing.”I finally had a date with the surgeon after close to three months of waiting. I am grateful to those who deeped into their pockets and supported me financially. I will be out for at least nine months if the doctor’s report is anything to go by,” he said.Owiti who extended his stay at the den for further two years in January remained hopeful that he will come back stronger next year and pick from where he left.He rued that the injury came at a time when he was looking to inspire Ingwe reclaim the Cup they last won in 2017 under the tutelage of the experienced Robert Matano.TEAM NEWS@AFCLeopards XI vs @SonySugarFC Owade EzekielKayumba SoterKipyegon IsaacOruchum ChristopherKamura Robinson Ochieng DavidSaid TsumaIsuzza WhyvonneMarita BrianOwiti JaffariOburu Vincent #SportPesa#INGWE pic.twitter.com/Xzk2ADUnYo— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) May 12, 2019 “I will definitely be back and better. I was worried about my career after waiting for treatment for some months. Injuries are part of football but it’s sad that it knocked my door at a time when I wanted to aid the team win the Cup,” he regretted.Meanwhile, Owiti revealed that his injury affected his siblings duo of Aziz Okaka of Nairobi City Stars and Faraj Ominde who was in Tusker’s books.AFC Leopards dealt injury blow ahead of Equity clash” They are very close to me and gave me a shoulder to lean on when I got injured. Their performance plummeted when it was confirmed that I will be out for some time. But I am certain that they will make me proud,” he added.
