Maurice Ojwang’s courageous decision to address, once and for all, his nagging knee injury problem at the start of the season seems to be paying off, with the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) centre-back back in active duty for Coach Bernard Mwalala’s side. Ojwang, who has previously been in the ranks of Gor Mahia-and-Wazito, had an on-and-off affair with the field due to an injury he picked a few years ago. He, however, made the bold decision to face the surgeon’s knife after his first full season with the bankers—one in which he played in every single match. ‘’It was something that needed to be done. I sometimes think playing the full season when I arrived here (KCB) might have aggravated the situation, hence the need for surgery. “I knew I would be out for a long time, but it was a fair price to pay for full fitness,’’ offered the centre-back. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8130850##Ojwang, who featured for the Bankers on Sunday in their semi-final Mozzart Bet Cup win over Kariobangi Sharks, admits to longing for a league return while out in recovery. Even though not a hundred percent, according to his team doctor, he is fit enough to garner substantial minutes, especially on dry surfaces. ‘’Seven months is a long time, so of course I missed being in action. The team has given me enough recovery time every step of the way and even now, I only get to play specific matches and specific minutes as the coaches see fit as I head towards a hundred percent fitness,’’ he continues. Ojwang’, who made his entry into the Kenyan top flight with Western Stima FC, has made appearances in KCB’s last three league matches, including a barren draw to champions Gor Mahia and midweek dismissal of FC Talanta.Against the Sharks, he was brought off at the hour mark as the earlier drizzle at the Police Sacco Stadium had made the surface a tad slippery. Four more foreign -based players join Harambee Stars campCoach Mwalala, wary of his prized centre-back’s state, had to reorganise his backline. The Bankers prevailed in the penalty shoot-outs after a one-all draw and will face Kenya Police FC in the Cup final, where spoils for continental football will be wrestled for. ‘’The league is already gone so we can only hope to finish higher than we are on the log. As for the cup, everyone is giving their all and we have a realistic chance of actually claiming the title. We see this as a way of rewarding our fans for a season that hasn’t gone our way in the league,’’ Ojwang’ reveals. The bankers have had a dismal showing in the league, partly due to a plague of injuries (centre-back Nahashon Alembi has also been out) and currently sit 11th on the 18-team FKF PL table standings. Rising Stars of the National Super League: A look at NSL’s brightest young talentsThe Mozzart Bet Cup, therefore, serves as a chance to make amends for the side. Coach Mwalala is no stranger to continental football, as he guided Bandari FC to the same championships in 2019. They have Posta Rangers, AFC Leopards and Nairobi City Stars as their final league matches respectively before heading to the cup final.
