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Njuguna finally makes return from injury

By James Waindi

International midfielder Joseph 'Pablo' Njuguna made a return to competitive football at the weekend. Adding spark for Kenyan Premier League title contenders KCB, he capped an amazing comeback from horrific injuries that have forced him out of action for one and a half years.

"Speed is real; it changes games," said KCB coach Leonard Saleh, who took a chance on signing the player from 2007 champions Tusker, just a week before their barren draw against the same side.

Joseph Nguguna in action against Tusker on Sunday. Photo: Boniface Okendo/Standard


Saleh added: "He brings energy to a game. He never gives up on a lost cause, in fact today he was our best player and I tip him to make a very big impact in the second leg."

Njuguna, who was a key figure for the national team Harambee Stars when Kenya finished second in the 2008 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, fractured his ankle on the first day of the 2010 season and had to wait until last Sunday to play his first competitive match, a feat he at one moment doubted if it would ever occur.

Starting the match and playing for 73 minutes against his immediate former employers Tusker is something Njuguna calls "the most special moment" in his career, one that was nearly cut shot 18 months ago.

He broke his right foot ankle after a clash with Posta Rangers midfielder Jacob Opere on February 28, 2010 on the first day of the league.

He took seven months to start training again and when he gained fitness and was due to help Tusker in their title chase with four matches remaining in the league, he twisted his knee in training and was back on the treatment table again.

The big doubts about Njuguna’s long road to recovery were whether or not his main attributes — his ferocious turn of pace and breakaway speed and hard tackles would ever fully come back.

That question was answered in the affirmative at the weekend, where he was a constant threat to the brewers’ defence and almost punished them in the 36th minute, when he narrowly missed target with a curling strike.

"It has really been a long road to recovery and I feel great to have played 73 minutes today.

"At some moment I thought I would never be able to play again but I am happy with the positive recovery and I’m looking forward to regaining my best form."