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Omija has struggled with the injury for the last five weeks, and was hooked off against FC Talanta last Wednesday early in the second half after a long struggle throughout the match.
Gor Mahia interim coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno has shed light on the knee injury troubling defender Alphonce Omija, a setback that could see the influential player sidelined for several weeks.
Omija was forced off during Gor Mahia's 3-2 win against FC Talanta in a midweek FKF Premier League clash, a decision Zico attributed to lingering effects of a prior injury.
The defender, who joined Gor from Oman's Dhofar Sports Club this season, initially sustained the injury during a training session with Harambee Stars at the Juba National Stadium in South Sudan in October.
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"Omija was injured. Even in our game against Mara [Sugar FC], he had to come out. We thought he was ready, but later on, we saw that he was not quite well and had to remove him," Zico explained post-match.
Following a thorough medical evaluation last October, Omija was diagnosed with extensive bone marrow edema in the medial femoral condyle and a high T2 signal in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), indicative of a sprain or partial tear. Such injuries typically require two to four weeks of recovery time, depending on the severity and rehabilitation progress.
The absence of Omija, who has swiftly cemented his place as a key player for both club and country, was keenly felt during the first leg of the CHAN qualifiers against South Sudan, where Harambee Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat.
He also missed the AFCON qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Namibia. He came back for the clash against Kakamega Homeboyz, but did affirm to Pulse Sports in a private chat that he has not returned to 100 percent.
Omija's injury adds to Zico’s defensive challenges as the 21-time league champions navigate a busy schedule. Despite their victory over Talanta, the match highlighted moments of defensive lapses, as noted by Zico.
“We lost concentration, and they took advantage of that. The penalty they scored was an easy one, but again, it’s football. It’s about concentration,” said the former Harambee Stars coach.
The coach also hinted at the toll of a hectic travel schedule, citing their recent journey to Homa Bay for a fixture against Mara Sugar FC, which left the team fatigued.
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“We had traveled over 1,000 kilometers, and looking at the way Talanta play, it was a tough match. This has been our toughest game so far,” Zico admitted.
With Omija potentially unavailable for upcoming matches, Zico emphasized the need for tactical adjustments and heightened concentration to maintain their defensive solidity.
The coach’s focus now shifts to preparing his squad for their next match against Bidco United on December 7 at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos.
Gor Mahia currently sits fourth on the league table, and Omija’s absence could be a crucial test of their depth and resilience as they aim to defend their title.
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