Eric Ouma: Kenyan nears return from injury, returns to Poland

Speedy Kenya national team Harambee Stars defender Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma is close to stepping on the grass again with the ball at his team Raków Częstochowa in Poland for the first time in nine months.

The 29-year-old left-back suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during a training session with the Polish champions on 28 August 2025, denting a blow to his 2025-26 football season for both club and country.

Harambee Stars defender Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma is close to stepping on the grass again with the ball at his team Raków Częstochowa in Poland for the first time in nine months. pic.twitter.com/2NbBvJxci5

— Dennis Mabuka (@DennisMabu4694) April 7, 2026

‘Marcelo’ has been doing his recovery sessions in Nairobi but has now rejoined his club for further checks before getting a node for a return-to-play from Raków’s medical department.

‘I can start to train with the team’

Though he has ruled out featuring in competitive football this season, ‘Marcelo’ revealed the great news about his recovery journey.

“This week I am supposed to do the RTP (return to play tests). Everything will be assessed and hopefully I can start to train with the team and for sure, I am looking forward to the next season,” said Ouma.

“For this season, there are like eight games remaining and I have been out for more than seven months. You know I cannot just come back and start to play immediately since there are protocols that need to be followed.

“This means I have to understand what my body wants. The focus for me is for the next season.”

Ouma debuted for Kenya in 2016

The former Gor Mahia player has made 47 appearances for Raków Częstochowa since joining the club from Swedish side AIK in 2024.

He has scored one goal and provided six assists for Raków. Born in Awasi, Kisumu County, Ouma signed a six-month contract with Gor Mahia in January 2016, before renewing it until the end of the year during the summer.

Ouma left Gor Mahia at the end of his contract, going on to sign a six-month contract with Georgian club Kolkheti Poti in January 2017.

In February 2018 he moved to Albanian club KS Kastrioti, and by September 2018 he was playing for Swedish club Vasalund, for whom he made 22 appearances, scoring 2 goals.

Ouma made his international debut for Kenya in 2016, and was part of the squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.