Kenyan Football Star Amputated in India After Cancer Diagnosis

Kenyan Football Star Amputated in India After Cancer Diagnosis

Fred Kennedy
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:54 PM
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  • Wisdom Naya was diagnosed with Sarcoma, a rare group of cancers in 2021
  • The promising midfielder was later in the year flown to India for further treatment
  • However, doctors are understood to have recommended to have his left leg amputated
  • Naya, who previously turned out for Sofapaka is expected to get an artificial limb after recovery

Kenyan teenage footballer Wisdom Naya has had his left leg amputated in India following a cancer diagnosis.

Ex-Sofapaka midfielder Wisdom Naya. Photo: Twitter/@FC_Sofapaka.
Naya shot to prominence on the football scene in his early teenage years when he won the national secondary schools games U16 and U19 Africa titles. Photo: @FC_Sofapaka.
Source: Twitter

Naya was diagnosed with Sarcoma, a rare group of cancers which arise in the bones and tissues in 2021.

However, despite starting his chemotherapy sessions in time, his condition is understood to have worsened, forcing the family to airlift him to India for further treatment.

The budding footballer was subsequently flown to India in December where he has been receiving treatment.

According to a family statement seen by Sports Brief, doctors at the facility managing Naya's condition decided it was best for the ex-Sofapaka star to have his left leg amputated to prevent the cancerous infection from spreading to other parts of his body.

The family further confirmed the midfielder is in good spirits even as he begins his recovery journey.

"The doctor says that Wisdom's case was a high-grade spindle cell sarcoma with foci of the pleomorphic area and not desmoids tumor as thought, so the best way was to amputate above the knee. He will thereafter undergo five chemotherapy sessions in Kenya," the statement said.
"Naya is currently in good condition and recovering well. Being alive is what we all want for him now most importantly living a good life," the statement added.

Upon full recovery, the 18-year-old is set to get an artificial limb ahead of his journey back home on Friday, January 14.

Naya shot to prominence on the football scene in his early teenage years when he won the national secondary schools games U16 and U19 Africa titles.

At the time, the youngster was schooling at St. Anthony's Boys High School, Kitale.

Kenya Premier League side, Sofapaka, snapped him up in January 2020 but was yet to break into the first team.

Wanyama lands ambassadorial role

Earlier, Sports Brief reported former Kenyan international Victor Wanyama has expressed his delight after he landed an ambassadorial role with Wild Aid Africa.

Wanyama's new role at Wild Aid Africa will see him link up with global celebrities in calling for the protection of wildlife.

Hollywood actress with Kenyan roots, Lupita Nyong'o, and Man United legend David Beckham are some of the celebrities signed up as Wild Aid Africa ambassadors.

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Fred Kennedy
Fred Kennedy has a Bachelor's degree in journalism (Daystar University), currently working as a Sports Editor. He has more than five years of experience in digital journalism.
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