Rangers International striker Ifeanyi Egwim believes he is getting close to returning to competitive football following a horrific leg break on the final day of last season's Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
The 26-year-old suffered a leg fracture in his team's 4-0 win over El-Kanemi Warriors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on 2 November, 2016 when Rangers claimed their first league title in 32 years.
Egwim replaced Ocheme Edoh in the game and a few minutes later in an attempt to round El-Kanemi goalkeeper Kazeem Yekeen, he slipped while in motion and fractured his tibia-fibular.
But the striker, having undergone treatment at the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Enugu, relived the horrific experience and absolved Yekeen of any blame for the incident which won Rangers a spot-kick in that game.
He also believes that the incident had a divine twist to it.
"There was no contact with the goalkeeper. What happened was that I twisted my leg and landed on my shin," he told Naija Made, SuperSport TV's magazine programme for the NPFL.
"I would say that something else would have happened but I will say this has to be a divine incident. In my life I have never played before such a crowd in my professional career.
"I am really grateful to the governor of Enugu State for showing concern and taking care of my bills. My wife has been my strength as she has stood by me.
"I will definitely come back. I am strong now but not too strong to start training. I believe from next month (February) I will start training and by first or second week of March I will join the team in training."
It is expected that Egwim will make a trip to Germany in the coming weeks to have further checks on his health.
credit: npfl