HARRISON, N.J. – The New York Red Bulls will be without one of their more consistent performers from the last couple of months on Sunday.
Center back Ibrahim Sekagya will be unavailable for the afternoon clash between the Red Bulls and Columbus Crew (3 pm ET; UniMas) due to a groin injury he sustained in last week’s 3-1 win over Toronto FC. Sekagya, 32, picked up the knock in the first half of that match and was replaced in the 44th minute by Armando.
“I have to be out [of action] like two weeks,” Sekagya told MLSsoccer.com after Saturday morning’s practice at Red Bull Arena. “Actually, I’m going to start going out with the ball and I will see how it will be. Maybe in Kansas I’m ready.”
Sekagya might be hoping to return by next Sunday’s season finale at Sporting Kansas City, but that seems a tad too optimistic given that the Uganda defender only began jogging on Saturday after spending the past week limited to gym work. He does not want to rush his return, either, but knows that the playoffs are looming.
“That’s what I’m doing now, just try to take the time so that I come back when I’m feeling already good,” said Sekagya. “Not just rushing because I know we have two important games right now, tomorrow and also Kansas, because we need those two wins to be in a good position. But I just want to be back exactly when I’m fit so that I can come back to the team without injury”
The loss of Sekagya is not insurmountable. Along with Armando, the Red Bulls also have seasoned veteran Damien Perrinelle and promising youngster Matt Miazga as center back options for the Eastern Conference encounter that will pit the fourth-placed Red Bulls against the fifth-placed Crew.
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Still, Sekagya has proven to be very valuable recent weeks. Since being reintroduced back into the lineup in July, Sekagya has turned in more solid performances than not en route to a string of 13 consecutive starts.
He has helped limit the heavy defensive struggles the Red Bulls had earlier in the season, while also putting a stop to the revolving door at the center back spot next to Jamison Olave.
“I think the way how I feel, my body how it was feeling, I think it was much important,” said Sekagya on how he felt when being reinserted into the starting group compared to the beginning of the season. “I was relaxed and some times in soccer it’s like that.”
Franco Panizo covers the New York Red Bulls for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached by email at Franco8813@gmail.com.
