AFTER six months out with a knee injury, former U-17 defender Faustin Usengimana is set to return to action next week, with the league game against Marines being seen as his first taste of competitive action.

Usengimana was a key player for Richard Tardy’s U-17 team that finished runners up to Burkina Faso in the African Youth championships played in Kigali last year.

He, however, suffered a nasty knee injury which restricted him to playing just a single game at the U-17 Fifa World Cup held in Mexico in June and July.

But after going through the pain and the frustration of not playing for half a year, Isonga FC doctor Patrick Rutamu has confirmed that the former Rayon Sports defender has a chance of making his come back when the newly formed club visits Marines FC in the Primus league on January 11.

 "He has been struggling with his knee but now he is fine, has been training well lately, and we’re hopeful he could play apart against Marines next week,” Rutamu said.

After the World Cup, the U-17 team was made a club and is now playing in the Primus National Football League. The move was aimed at keeping the players together.

First choice goalkeeper Marcel Nzarora also missed yesterday’s league match against the Mukura through injury.

Two other players Ibrahim Itangishaka and Andrew Buteera are long term absentees with knee injuries which require operations.