The 27-year-old has resumed full training after being cleared by the club’s medical team, following a three-month layoff due to a groin adductor muscle tear.
Kibwage, who rejoined first-team training last weekend, has impressed Head Coach Charles Okere, who believes the defender “looks sharper than ever.”
His return is expected to strengthen Tusker’s defensive setup as they intensify their push for the FKF Premier League title.
Before his injury, Kibwage was a key figure in Tusker’s backline, forming a solid central defensive partnership with Captain Charles Momanyi.
However, his injury limited their pairing to just 10 matches this season. During his absence, he missed 14 league matches and two FKF Cup games.
Speaking to Citizen Digital, Kibwage opened up about the difficult period he has endured in the cold.
“I’m used to being active and leading others, so this has been a tough period. Watching from the stands has been more stressful than playing. It was heartbreaking to miss almost the whole season, and at some point, even my family was worried that my career could be over.”
The former Sofapaka defender also revealed how he spent his rehabilitation period studying match footage to analyze his performances and identify areas for improvement.
“I didn’t have much to do besides reviewing match clips. I’ve learned a lot and am working on those areas in training so that when I get my chance, I’ll be ready to help the team,” he added.
Kibwage acknowledges that reclaiming his starting spot will not be easy. In his absence, Okere has relied on Thomas Teka Omenda to partner Momanyi, though Teka later suffered an injury, leading to the emergence of Alex Onchwari.
“When I got injured, Teka stepped up and even became a scoring defender. When he got injured, Onchwari came in and rose to the occasion. Now that Teka is back, it won’t be easy for either of us to dislodge Onchwari from the starting XI. But whoever the coach picks, we will fully support him. My desire, however, is to get my playing time back,” Kibwage stated.
Asked about the Premier League title race entering the homestretch, the Mukumu High alumnus and former AFC Leopards defender remained optimistic despite their recent FKF Cup exit.
“The Cup exit has motivated us to finish the season strongly. We have sat down as a team and decided to use this setback as a turning point in the league. Every match from now on is like a final for us, and we aim to win all our remaining games, hoping that Police and Gor Mahia drop points,” said the former AFC Leopards and KCB defender.
After the international break, Tusker will face Bidco United away in Thika on March 29, travel to Mara Sugar on April 6, and then host Nairobi City Stars three days later.
The Brewers are second in the FKF Premier League table with 44 points from 24 matches, one point behind leaders Police FC and two points ahead of third-placed Gor Mahia.
By Festus Lango
