Former Harambee Stars and AFC Leopards captain Martin Imbalambala was on Thursday, January 20, inducted into the Kenya Society for the Blind (KSB).
This comes as a reprieve to the midfielder who lost his sight and went blind in 2018. Imbalambala will undergo a six-month rigorous training to help him become self-reliant in life.
According to KSB Chief Executive Officer Samson Waweru, during the period, KSB will help him to accept his condition through counselling and socio-therapy.
"He will be trained how to walk with a white-cane to help him navigate his environment freely," Samson Waweru stated.
After he has settled, the player will be introduced to computer classes using screen reading software called Job Access With Speech (JAWS) to help him with typing, browsing, presentations and sending mails.
The former Ingwe midfielder will also be taught Braille work to learn how to read, write and communicate using devices like the Dot Watches.
"He will be taught how he can be guided by a sighted person. He will be trained how to use a specialised smartphone for the blind. We will teach him how to do his daily chores independently without involving his wife. Finally, we will introduce him to adapted sports for the visually impaired people," Waweru added.
Imbalambala was accompanied by his wife Jackline at the Society's offices in Nairobi,where he pledged to honour the rehabilitation process to the letter.
"I'm grateful for this support.I promise to do all that is required of me in this journey," Imbalambala stated.
The 33-year old has challenged the Sports Ministry to support athletes both in their high and low moments in life.
"I want to thank friends who have walked with me through this journey, more so to my wife Jackline who has been the breadwinner through her salon business," he added.
In addition, several corporates have come to the aid of Imbalambala with support for his rehabilitation journey.
According to National Council for Persons with Disability (NCPD) Rehabilitation Officer, Alex Munyere they pledged to buy him a specialised laptop equipped with softwares for the blind.
" We are also going to boost his wife's business with Ksh 50,000," Alex Munyere added.
Safaricom PLC donated a white-cane, a specialised smartphone and a Dot Braille Watch to the player. Optic company Essillor will equip Imbalambala and his wife with comfortable spectacles and other eye-wears.
Wamboi Njogu of Fanaka Foundation donated ksh150,000 to cater for his accommodation and upkeep at KSB. The Christian Blind Mission (CBM) paid his entire tuition fees for six months totalling ksh108,900.
AFC Leopards chairman, Dan Shikanda, noted that the club would keep tabs on the player to monitor his progress at KSB.
" I will challenge the AFC fraternity to come on board to support Imbalambala.
"AFC is going to put up sustainable structures to support former players which should be up and running by February," Shikanda stated.