“20th October 2021.”It’s a day Kenya Police midfielder Kevin Mwaura recalls in detail.Then, the playmaker suffered a nasty left knee injury in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League game against Nzoia Sugar that ruled him out for the rest of the season.##NAJAVA_MECA_7261632##“It was just a few weeks into our debut season in the Premier League and I was suddenly being referred to hospital for surgery,” Mwaura narrated about the ‘heartbreaking’ moment. “I had a large swelling that I had to wait on till the following year to get operated on.”Before being wheeled into the AIC Kijabe Hospital on 3 February 2022, Mwaura had gone through a whirlwind of emotions and contrasting beliefs that had contributed to him delaying the surgery and rethinking his future footballing career.“I didn’t want to have the surgery,” Mwaura said. “I was hearing too many things from those around me concerning the risky nature of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament surgery and that got to me. “Some said ‘you’ll never recover fully from this’ others hinting that I’ll never be the same player with pace as before and that suddenly triggered my thoughts. “Why not beat the odds?”Tylor Ongwae joins Ivorian side ABC Fighters for upcoming BAL PlayoffsWith surgery done, the next bit for Mwaura was to exercise patience at his home in Thika, and as he admitted to Mozzart Sport last weekend, that must have been the ‘most lonely, difficult and trying’ times he had experienced in his life.“At first you normally have loved ones, teammates visiting you until they all shift back to their normal lives,” Mwaura said. “The next eight months was me fighting myself to stay positive. Honestly, I thought about my career and wondered whether I would ever come back.”The mission to ‘beat the odds’ still lingering had him wishing to paint the example to kids looking up to him of a humble footballer who was hampered by a serious setback but found a way above it.“I am an optimist. I looked at the healing process as a blessing in disguise,” the former Murang’a Seal player said. “Think about it, in fire, we test gold. I had to bear through the moment.”Fast forward to October 2022, Mwaura was off the crutches and began the first phase of football comeback – individual drills.
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“All through, the Kenya Police fraternity didn’t fail to do a random check on me,” Mwaura – a Kenyatta University graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Procurement and Supply Chain Management said. “More than anyone, the Police hierarchy played a big role in my recovery. I always got what I needed and when the time came to get back to the facility, you could see how patient they were with me.”Team Doctor Wycliffe Omom and two physiotherapists – John Kemboi and Harry Gentle – were among the individuals that took Mwaura through every recovery step – posture, body weight balance, pace and gym work running through to the next year (2023), to when he was allowed to take up team training.“Everyone looked so delighted to see me,” Mwaura said of his teammates and new head coach Francis Baraza. “Things happened so quickly and soon enough, I was making the team without getting a single minute.”Then came the moment on 10 May 2023.“I was just seated on the bench and the coach – after hinting that I would get some minutes – motioned me to strip up,” Mwaura said of the moment just before he made entry into the Sofapaka game in the 70th minute. “I had never won my matchday jersey. Think about it – I had to get the name tags at the back of my shirt off! Everything looked new.”A memorable day to make a comeback was of course celebrated by his teammates but not more to him than having his mother around to witness him return to what he initially contemplated walking from.Kevin MWAURA came in for the first time since last season at the 70th minute against Sofa-paka. He has been out for 18 months after a surgery on his left knee. Kuja Sunday uone Fundi mwenyewe.Kenya Police F.C vs Mathare United F.C Police Sacco Stadium 14/5/2023 at 3.00pm pic.twitter.com/fTsXAEQgE3— KENYA POLICE FC (@kenyapolicefc) May 12, 2023 “I haven’t had as emotional days like the one I had then,” the former Thika Youth playmaker said. “I would assume that in the history of comebacks, my name will appear somewhere.“But most importantly for me, was to sound an inspirational message – You can overcome any challenge if you’re committed to beating it.”Asked about the lessons he learnt all through the 18 months in the cold, Mwaura talked about the beauty of patience and belief.“Trust me if I had given up I wouldn’t be here.”
