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The youngster has become an important player for the soldiers but coach Anthony Kimani will have to do without him for the next two months
Ulinzi Stars will be without key midfielder Lucas ‘Maish’ Maina for up to eight weeks after he suffered an injury during the club's friendly match against AFC Leopards on Friday.
The rising star was among the bright spots as the soldiers lost 2-1 to Leopards but he will not be involved in the first two months of the 2023-24 campaign due to a hairline fracture.
“Lucas 'maish' Maina sustained hairline fracture medial malleolus on his right foot in today's friendly match against AFC Leopards SC and will be out of action for 6-8 weeks,” Ulinzi announced via a social media post. “We wish the young lad a quick recovery.”
Maina was part of St Anthony's Boys High School squad that were crowned the 2018 Copa Coca Cola Africa champions and has impressed since then.
Ulinzi assistant coach Abdallah Dalo Mohammed explained in June how Maina is top talent but needed not to be rushed so that he takes time to learn the ropes.
“Lucas Maina is a good player with a lot of potential, but we mustn't rush him at all even with a bright future ahead of him. If we rush him, we may end up regretting in the future as he receives lots of stick for exposing his rawness. We cannot give him much responsibility right now,” he said then.
Ulinzi and Leopards fielded their new signings in Friday’s encounter with Tom Juma’s men giving minutes to goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi, Brian Mandela (formerly of Mwatate), Emmanuel Lwanga, Boniface Munyendo, Kevin Kimani, and Yassin Sije among others.
Ulinzi, now coached by former Leopards captain and coach Anthony ‘Modo’ Kimani, had the likes of Dennis Magige, Omar Somobwana, Benjamin Mosha, Faraj Ominde, Nicholas Omondi, Ben Stanley Omondi as well as Michael Wanyika in the squad.
Ulinzi, who begin their Premier League campaign away to Nzoia Sugar on August 26, will be without Maina for meetings with Gor Mahia, Bandari, Sofapaka, Kariobangi Sharks, KCB and Shabana.
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