Hardly a day after AFC Leopards confirmed that their battle hardened centre back Tesian Esilaba is back to training, coach Patrick Aussems will be glad to hear that his right back Lewis Bandi will return to training in two weeks time. Aussems who has had to operate with a lean squad received a boost in his backline after Esilaba started training after recovering from a knee surgery he underwent last year. The former Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United defender had a date with the surgeon after rapturing his Anterior Cruciate Ligaments.Bandi has missed the last four league rounds against Kariobangi Sharks, Nzoia Sugar, Nairobi City Stars and Kakamega Homeboyz owing to an ankle injury he says he picked after accidentally slid while at home. AFC Leopards new boy Lewis Bandi with some filthy piece of skill#FKFPLTransfers pic.twitter.com/PzTUrMEJDI— Ole Teya (@Kevin_teya) October 13, 2020 For the time the youngster has been nursing the injury, Aussems has been relying on the experienced Collins Shivachi who has also be unlucky with injuries as he missed last weekend league match against Kariobangi Sharks. Aussems has also been playing Prince Busaka who made his senior team debut against Homeboyz last month.Leopards felt the absence of the two players in their 3-1 loss to Sharks last Saturday at the Kasarani Stadium as Aussems was forced to play Peter Thiong’o, a natural winger at right back,limiting their options upfront.Happy birthday Master Lewis Bandi 🎂🎂🎂#OursForever pic.twitter.com/P7z6h86bL2— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) December 2, 2021 Bandi revealed that he was nearing full recovery and is likely to be selected for duty in the first week of next month. Last season, Leopards missed the services of the former national U20 right back for a number of weeks as he hurt his ankle while in action for the U23 team in the CECAFA tournament held in Ethiopia.”I have been nursing an ankle injury for some time but at least i am getting better. The doctor’s report says that I will be fully fit in two weeks time. The affected ankle has troubled me for quite some time but I believe I will be injury free going forward,” he said.
