Wellington Ochieng is one of the most decorated players in Kenyan football. 

He has won the local league six times, four with Gor Mahia and two with current champions Tusker FC.

However, his hopes of bagging more accolades fizzled after he was involved in a grissly accident that could have taken him to early retirement in June last year.

The memories of the devastating accident are still fresh in his mind. 

“It was early morning when I was heading to Ruaraka Grounds for training. It happened on Outering Road. There was oil spillage on the road and my car was skidding. As a result, I hit a matatu from behind.

“I stepped out of my car to settle the matter with the driver of the matatu but unfortunately, a van rammed into my car from behind. I was sandwiched between my car and the matatu. As much as I tried to jump on the bonnet of my car, it was terrible”, Ochieng told People Daily Sport.

That was the unfortunate incident that kept the former Muhoroni Youth defender out of action for four months with a knee injury.

After undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, his meniscus and cartilage was repaired.

While this ensued, Tusker was remaining with only two games to be crowned champions of the land for the 2020/21 season. He celebrated his first title with the Brewers on crutches at the Utalii Grounds.

An injury of that nature might have wrecked the footballer’s career but for Ochieng, it has certainly been a long slog to reach this point where he is back in Tusker’s team, playing with distinction once again.

Career threatening

“To say the truth, it was a career threatening incident. I was very worried. I was in shock when I was squeezed in between two vehicles. I thought I had lost my legs but I thank God for surviving. It took me some time to realise what was happening,” he added.

“The process was a test to my patience. Every step of the journey was equally important. From morning to evening gym sessions, jogging and physiotherapy.

“It was not easy but I was to pass through that for me to be here today,” Ochieng said while admitting that the road to recovery was tough and gruelling after the knee surgery.

He is thankful to his medical team that ensured he recovers on time to return in action and accelerate Tusker’s push for the title. A year after the accident, Ochieng has fully recovered and manage to get to the field last season. His input was impressive for a player that was nearly disparate about his future on the pitch.

He was described as superb and gave everything for the Brewers’ badge he is so proud to wear despite going down 1-0 against eventual league runners up in December.

“The doctors kept me going and believing every day.