AFC Leopards have been handed a boost by the return of forward Paul Mungai Kiongera, who was stretched off last weekend in their 1-1 draw against Mathare United.PHOTO/courtesy
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 21- Mungai Kiongera resumed full training with the rest of his team mates on Thursday morning as the AFC Leopards front-man showed recovery with the side bracing itself for a tough tie against Sony Sugar on Saturday.
Kiongera, a June acquisition from Tanzanian side Simba SC was stretchered off the pitch and into the ambulance last Sunday in the club’s 1-1 draw with Mathare United after appearing to have snapped his ankle.
“He has trained fully with the rest of the players today and he seems very okay. We will see whether he will be okay to start against Sony or not,” Leopards head coach Ivan Minnaert said.
Kiongera trained lightly on his own on Tuesday and Wednesday and he said he felt in good shape after the injury scare.
The former KCB forward had been plagued with injuries over the last year, building on to the surgery he underwent in India at the end of 2014.
He has however shown his mettle in the three matches he has been on the pitch for Leopards and it was a concern after he picked up the injury last weekend.
Minnaert is positive his team will pick up three points against the Sugar Millers who are full of confidence after last weekend’s win over Bandari in Awendo.
“They (Sony) have already said they will beat us, so let’s wait and see on the pitch,” Minnaert said.
-Diarra-
Malian Striker Ismaila Diarra in action for his Rwandan side Rayon Sports.PHOTO/The New Times
Meanwhile, the Belgian tactician is disappointed with reports being his second transfer target Malian striker Ismaila Diarra will not be joining the club, following a miss at Emmanuel Imanishimwe who cooked his own goose by signing for three different clubs.
Sources in Rwanda told Capital Sport the striker has penned a one year contract extension with Rayon Sport with the Rwandese FA cancelling AFC’s International Transfer Certificate request for the player.
Diarra had an agreement with Ingwe to join in immediately after the end of the Rwandese season last weekend, but the player went on to put pen to paper to a contract offered by Rayon after the Rwandese former champions handed him better remuneration.
“I have nothing to say on that. We will just leave all that to the AFC lawyers to handle,” Minnaert said.
The team is also tinkering on the possibility of another new import, Mousa Sissoko failing to don the Ingwe riot into with the uncertainty over his ITC.
The case is currently being handled by the FIFA players’ status committee after the Malian FA failed to hand out the ITC on time.
Sissoko has been training with the side since last week and even scored a goal in a 2-0 friendly match against second tier side Wazito FC on Wednesday.
