adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
UNHERALDED Plumtree Chiefs FC footballer Emmanuel Ndebele (24) suffered a horrific injury last weekend when he broke his leg in two places after an opponent tackled him during a pre-season friendly.The left footed defender who played for Quelaton when they were in the Premiership in 2012 and won the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League title with Plumtree Chiefs last year, remains hopeful of recovering from the horrendous injury he suffered in the game against army side Bulawayo Jumbos.
About $5,000 is needed to pay an orthopaedic surgeon for Ndebele’s surgery. Ndebele said his opponent had no intentions of playing the ball as he went on him with a double open stud challenge.
“I’m in pain but it gets better when I take some pills. The club has been very supportive and on Saturday, they paid medical bills for my plaster. Today, the team manager took me for x-rays after which we went to see the bone specialist and according to the doctor; I broke my fibula and tibia. I have to go for an operation and I am yet to hear from the club how they are going to assist.
“I earn a living through playing soccer and as much as I am afraid that this might be the end of my career, I still have hope that one day I might be able to return to the field and play. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that everything will go well,” said a tearful Ndebele.
Some of Zimbabwe’s stars that suffered similar injuries are ex-national team winger Joel Luphahla and Kaizer Chiefs’ Jimmy Jambo.
Jambo picked the injury in October 2012 and is still on the sidelines while Luphahla, now retired, broke his leg in 2007 while playing for Platinum Stars of South Africa and never returned to his full potential after recovering.
According to a city medical practitioner, Ndebele can be out of action for up to four months if he undergoes a perfect surgery.
“It takes about four months for this bone to come together and since the person you are talking about has age on his side, he may start training maybe after August. The earlier he undergoes surgery, the faster he can heal and get back to action,” said a doctor.
Plumtree Chiefs coach Thulani “Thuts” Sibanda said Ndebele’s injury was a blow for his team that is aiming at challenging for a Premiership spot.
“Stapura (Ndebele) is one of the players that I was building my team around and it hurts me that he is now out due to a career-threatening injury. We are meeting the club executive tonight (last night) so that we find out how best they can help the boy. We wish him a speedy recovery and we will miss his services,” said Sibanda.
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