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AFC Leopards have suffered a huge blow after it emerged midfielder Victor Omune will miss the start of the 2023-24 Football Kenya Football (FKF) Premier League season owing to injury.

The 30-year-old Omune, who joined the Den from KCB in 2022, was instrumental for Ingwe last season as he pushed the side to the semi-finals of the FKF Cup where they lost 1-0 against Kakamega Homeboyz and eventually ended the campaign without silverware.

With seven days remaining before the new campaign gets underway, Omune has confirmed he will be out of action for the next four months owing to a knee injury.

“Unfortunately, I will miss the start of the season with a knee injury and I will be out for close to four months as the doctors have said,” Omune wrote on his Facebook page, adding: “But I believe I will be back better and stronger. Thanks a lot for the love.”

When reached for comment, AFC Leopards coach Tom Juma admitted losing Omune will be a huge blow for the side, who are fighting to end their trophy drought this campaign.

“It is a huge blow, losing Omune he was in my plans for the new season, he played a big role in the last campaign, and I am gutted he won’t be available for the start of the campaign,” Juma told People Sports, adding: “For example in the game against FC Talanta, which we won 6-0, he scored an incredible four goals, it is a big loss but of course, we don’t need to mourn, we need to plan minus him, we will see what to do as the bench to fill his void.”

The injury to Omune comes at a time when AFC have been cleared by the world governing body FIFA to sign new players after reaching an agreement with former coach Patrick Aussems on how to pay his accrued salary of Ksh20 million. Ingwe were facing relegation from the top-flight had they not reached an amicable settlement with the 58-year-old Belgian tactician.

Ingwe, who have shifted their home matches to Bukhungu Stadium owing to the renovation work being undertaken at Nyayo Stadium, will kick off their campaign against FC Talanta on August 26.