After months of pain and uncertainty, Ugandan footballer Favour Nambatya has taken her first real steps toward a return to the sport she loves.
The 25-year-old, who tore her ACL during a private training session last year, is now 30% into her recovery process following surgery earlier this year.
The injury was a devastating blow. For many players, an ACL tear is career-defining, sometimes career-ending.
But Nambatya has chosen a different route. Instead of rushing back, she’s returned to the grassroots, focusing on healing and slowly rebuilding her strength and confidence.
She’s not chasing the spotlight right now. Her focus is on physiotherapy, mobility, and regaining trust in her own body. A return to competitive football is the goal, but only when her body is truly ready—likely next year.
“I still need more financial help because each rehab session costs me 60,000 shillings,” Nambatya said. “I have to hire a car to get to the hospital, buy medication, and eat well, which is expensive given my current situation.”
Despite the setbacks, she hasn’t stopped believing. Every rehab session is a step forward, every painful stretch a reminder of how much the game means to her. And even with limited resources, she remains determined to make her comeback.
