Record FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia have been handed a timely boost ahead of the new season, following the return to training of two of their dependable players.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsIn a club update on Thursday, 27 August, K’Ogalo confirmed that both forward Patrick Essombe and central defender Sylvester Owino had made progress on their injuries picked up during the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup in Rwanda, and are nearing full training.##NAJAVA_MECA_9915616##As for Essombe, Gor Mahia Team Doctor Brian Odongo confirmed that the Cameroonian striker had fully recovered from his ankle injury sustained on Thursday, 30 July against Garde Républicaine, and was up for selection by coach Charles Akonnor.“Patrick has fully recovered from his ankle injury, and is now training well and available for selection,” Odongo said.Essombe, who scored a goal against APR in the Kagame Cup, had earlier been suspected to be out for a lengthy period of time, before a scan revealed only a minor injury to one of the bones of the foot, rather than a more serious issue as initially feared.Shabana FC complete signing of former Golden Boot winner ahead of FKFPL seasonHis return is expected to offer Akonnor more options upfront, with striking proving to be a main concern for K’Ogalo, who laboured all afternoon in the season curtain-raiser against Tusker to no avail.On the defensive front, Owino is reported to be making significant progress on his calf muscle injury picked up on the eve of Gor Mahia’s opening Kagame Cup clash with APR on Thursday, 23 July.##NAJAVA_MECA_9915605##As per Odongo, the Harambee Stars defender is currently in the final phase of his rehabilitation, as he works towards a full return to competitive football.“Sylvester has made good progress following his calf muscle injury, and is currently in the final phase of his rehabilitation with a focus on specific sport-related training as he works toward a full return to competitive football,” the doctor noted.Gor Mahia captain Owino laments poor preparation after fresh injury blowOwino’s injury, which had been termed a slight sprain when it happened, is the second muscle problem the defender has had to endure this year, having partially torn the lower medial gastrocnemius muscle belly (lower calf muscle) in March, and stayed on the sidelines for over two months.Akonnor, in a bid to strengthen his defensive department, signed former Kakamega Homeboyz defender Portipher Odhiambo, and it will be interesting to see how the Ghanaian tactician deploys the two former Vihiga Bullets teammates.Gor Mahia secure defensive reinforcement from Kakamega HomeboyzAs per the provisional FKF fixtures, Gor Mahia is set to begin its league defence against Murang’a Seal on Saturday, 29 August.
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