Harambee Stars defender Philemon Otieno has broken his silence after a successful surgery at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
In an interview with Citizen Digital on Tuesday, the Got Mahia player thanked everyone who supported him since he was injured in August.
“I want to thank God, my family members and friends for the support and generosity they showed at the time I needed them most. I have suffered a lot and I’m grateful at last I have had a successful operation,’’ Otieno told Citizen Digital.
Tottenham's and national team captain Victor Wanyama, Jesse Were were among Otieno's teammates who contributed money to cover his medical bill.
Others were Zambia’s Nkana defender Musa Mohamed, Simba’s Francis Kahata, Belgian club Brugge defender Aboud Omar and IF Elfsborg SLC's Joseph Okumu.
The Gor Mahia defender said it was his wish to remain silent due to the politics his injury has attracted but expressed his joy of returning to the pitch.
“I have always wanted to remain silent on this issue since it has been widely politicised. I know what is expected of me as a player hence I can’t talk much about it. The most encouraging thing is that I have at last been operated on and I am hopeful of bouncing back to the pitch of play," he noted.
Otieno was injured during a game with the National team but the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) did not cater for his surgery expenses.
Gor Mahia, on the other hand, said it was the federation that was to pay for the surgery as he was injured while on the national duty.
This forced the player to make personal arrangements to raise the cash.