Harambee Stars Duo Face Injury Setbacks at English Clubs Ahead of New Season

The aspirations of two Harambee Stars prospects, Eliot MatazoPlayer·Eliot Matazo and Collins Sichenje, have been significantly impacted by untimely injury setbacks during the 2025/26 English football season. Both players, crucial to Kenya's national team, faced prolonged periods on the sidelines, complicating their integration and progress at their English clubs.

Eliot MatazoPlayer·Eliot Matazo, a midfielder eligible for the Harambee Stars, experienced a particularly devastating turn of events with Hull CityTeam·Hull City. After a lengthy recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained in February 2025, which kept him out for over 14 months, Matazo made his much-anticipated return to competitive action on April 25, 2026. This comeback occurred in a match against Charlton Athletic. Tragically, just 11 minutes into his return, Matazo ruptured the ACL in his left knee, marking another major setback in his burgeoning career. Hull CityTeam·Hull City's head coach, Sergej Jakirovic, confirmed the injury, noting it affected the opposite knee to his previous ACL issue. Jakirovic clarified that Matazo's return was not rushed, as he had trained with the team for nearly four weeks, and the decision to start him was a calculated risk. Matazo was scheduled for surgery in early May 2026.

Despite Matazo's personal misfortune, Hull CityTeam·Hull City concluded their 2025/26 Championship season successfully, securing 6th place with 73 points. The club ultimately achieved promotion to the English Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League for the 2026/27 season by winning the play-off final. Around the time of Matazo's injury in late April 2026, Hull CityTeam·Hull City's form had seen a dip, with the team winless in six outings, including a 2-1 loss to Charlton Athletic, which briefly saw them fall out of the playoff positions. However, they regrouped effectively to secure their top-flight return.

Meanwhile, Harambee Stars defender Collins Sichenje, playing for Charlton Athletic, also contended with recurring injury problems throughout the 2025/26 campaign. Sichenje returned from a hamstring injury on April 19, 2026, featuring in a match against Sheffield Wednesday. However, his return was brief, as he was forced off with another injury after only 28 minutes during Charlton's encounter with Hull CityTeam·Hull City on April 26, 2026. Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones had previously highlighted Sichenje's injury struggles, stating in March 2026 that the defender was a "victim of circumstance" due to being compelled to play extended minutes when other defensive players were unavailable. As of early April 2026, Jones indicated that Sichenje was still not fully fit and required additional recovery time.

Charlton Athletic successfully retained their Championship status for the 2025/26 season, finishing 19th in the league with 53 points. Their recent form around Sichenje's injury included a notable 2-1 victory over Hull CityTeam·Hull City. Throughout the season, Charlton Athletic lost 41.30% of their Championship matches, averaging 1.0 goal scored per game while conceding 1.26 goals per game. The setbacks for both Matazo and Sichenje underscore the demanding physical nature of English football and present a challenge for their respective clubs and the Harambee Stars as they look towards future competitions.