Ouma working to be fit before next duty with Stars

@icia_jacob

Harambee Stars defender Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma hopes he will be ready for the national team duty when international matches resume with a revised calendar by both the world and African football governing bodies.

Ouma, who recently had a surgery following a fibula fracture while preparing for the Swedish top league restart, is however in no rush to return to the pitch until he is fully recovered to avoid recurrence.

Speaking to Citizen Digital from his base in Sweden, Ouma revealed he is already walking again as a preliminary part of his rehabilitation.

“As at now it is not clear how CAF and FIFA will revise their calendars for the World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifiers (AFCON) that have been largely disrupted by the prevailing COVID-19 situation.

“I’m however optimistic by October I will be comfortably back and available for selection,” the former Gor Mahia FC star said.

Initial statements by his club AIK said he was likely to be on the sidelines for 6-8 weeks.

Having endured a long period out of football due to a recurring hamstring injury in 2017 while at Georgian side Kholketi Poti, Ouma emphasizes the need for patience in managing injuries.

This is albeit the burning desire to make an impact in his Swedish top tier side AIK that he signed for December 2019, from Vasalund IF.

“You don’t have to be under pressure. If you do, the journey will be longer than it should, even psychologically. You need a strong mentality to keep you going as you recover,” he said.

Having been an important figure in the Sebastien Migne’s side for the 2019 AFCON and the tournament’s qualifiers, Ouma has cemented his place in the current Francis Kimanzi’s first team, having clocked fulltime in the Egypt and Togo matches – 2021 qualifiers of March 2020.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa posted on his Twitter hander wishing Ouma a quick recovery, noting his importance in the national team just after his surgery.

“You will be back soon. We need you back!” Mwendwa wrote.

On Sunday June 21, Ouma’s AIK side beat hosts Hammarby 2-0 in the third match of the season, to climb to the third spot on the 16-team table with six points.