AFC Leopards have been dealt another injury blow as fast rising midfielder Dan Sunguti is set to be sidelined for at least nine months after rupturing his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) coupled with a complex meniscus tear.The midfielder who has been out for some time is set to undergo reconstructive surgery and subsequently will join the duo of Tedian Esilaba and Jaffari Owiti who are recovering from similar injuries.”Dan Sunguti has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and complex meniscus tear which requires surgery. He will be out for almost nine months,” read a statement from the club.CLUB UPDATE INJURIES Dan Sunguti has a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and complex meniscus tear which requires surgery He’ll be out for almost 9 months#Betsafe #OursForever #INGWE pic.twitter.com/sPsxgaYtJ2— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) January 22, 2022 The unavailability of the youngster leaves coach Patrick Aussems with a leaner squad going forward. However, the Belgian will be glad that Esilaba who underwent surgery in March last year is back to training while Owiti is also said to have resumed light training.Owiti faced the knife at the Guru Nanak hospital albeit belatedly in August last year and was ruled out of competitive football for nine months. Adding to the list of injured players is right back Lewis Bandi who hurt his ankle last month but he is set to resume training next month. While the former Simba boss may not necessarily feel the absence of the trio of Esilaba, Sunguti and Owiti, he will certainly miss Bandi’s services ahead of their Sunday league duel against Mathare United as his cover, Collins Shivachi is suspended.Jaffari Odeny is doing four months post anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) reconstructive surgeryHe has started light training Lewis Bandi is still out recovering from an ankle injury He will join the team for full training in a week’s time#Betsafe #OursForever #INGWE— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) January 22, 2022 Shivachi saw red on Thursday when Leopards beat Mathare at Nyayo National Stadium for physically squaring it out with Khalid Jumaan in the full glare of centre referee Andrew Opulu and will consequently sit out in two rounds.The unavailability of the two defenders means that Aussems who will have to do without his skipper Marvin Nabwire will have to play Peter Thiong’o at right back.Nabwire picked up his fifth booking of the season against Mathare for delaying restart.
