Nigerian Football
MY INJURY HELL IS OVER, SAYS DELE OLORUNDARE
BY TOBI ADEPOJU.
Former Sunshine Stars forward, Dele Olorundare has declared he would soon be back on the pitch and scoring goals after finally finding a lasting solution to his persistent injury.
Olorundare, who once led Sunshine Stars to third place in the Nigeria Professional Football League and led the line as Sunshine Stars played on the continent for the first time has battled consistent knee problems for the past two years and his career has stalled as a result of the injury.
Olorundare, with 42 goals in 69 appearances, is arguably Sunshine Stars record scorer. His superb season form earned him a call-up to the home-based Super Eagles under late Stephen Keshi in 2013.
However, it appears he is certain the lingering problem has now being solved and is gearing up for a return to the league.
“It started two years ago when I felt something in my knee. I continued playing with it because I wanted to help my club but apparently, it was getting worse. When I fully broke down, I started looking for medical solutions to resolve it and that was where my problems began,” he says.
“One solution led to another but I wasn’t feeling any better and losing hope till I heard about Kasi Healthcare. Dr Salami and Dr Dayo Osholowu assured me they could finally resolve the issue and I decided to go with them as they seemed to know what they were talking about and I saw the technology they had.
“It has turned out to be the best decision I have made in my career. My knee is healing fast now and I will resume training very soon. I cannot wait to be back”, said Olorundare.
Speaking on player’s injury, Dr Salami, the Chief Surgeon at Kasi Healthcare said making the right diagnosis and confirming same with modern technology is fundamental to identify and plan for treatment of delicate sports injuries and ensuring that players make the best of their short careers.
“It is sad many players lose out on the best years of their careers because of inadequate care.
“Our team has extensive clinical experience managing sports injuries. Nigerian athletes can now gain access to diagnostic ultrasound and MRI scans reported by specialist sports medicine specialists and l radiologists, either same day or within 48 hours of their initial appointment.
“We offer a world class but local solution for injured Nigerian athletes. We have consolidated all our skills, expertise, and made the investment in the modern technology to create a world class sports medicine service here in Lagos Nigeria. That is our mission here at Kasi. I am happy for Olorundare; he deserves to be back on the pitch. He has been through a lot.
Salami is a Fellow in Arthroscopy at the Sancheti Institute of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Pune, India.
He is also a fellow of the West African College of Surgeons and member International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS); European Society for Sports Traumatology.
Also speaking on the issue is Head of the Kasi Healthcare Interventional Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation service Dr Dayo Osholowu who is a Diplomat of the FIFA Football Medicine Centre of Excellence Johannesburg and member of the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup Medical team and Former Team Doctor of Nigerian Dodan Warriors Basketball team said that the NPFL players, other Nigeria athletes all need fast diagnosis and full recovery.
“They want to return to their achieved levels of fitness and performance as soon as possible with minimal disruption.
“For even the most severe sports injuries such as a torn ACL (knee ligament) we offer advance keyhole and micro surgery including Laser treatments for Sports Injuries.
“We also offer Physiotherapy and individualized rehabilitation programmes to ensure full recovery from sports injuries and orthopaedic surgery.
“Our team is 100% Nigerian and trained at top Sports Medicine centres in Europe, USA, South Africa and India.
“We are here to provide the best quality specialist healthcare to this category of Nigerians. It is sad that in the past many have never fully recovered from these injuries which are completely treatable.
“We are happy, we are giving athletes and Nigerians hope by helping them recover from injuries.
“This year we have treated Terry Envoh, a former Nigerian international and he is on his way to fully recovering.
“Another Nigerian international, Segun Oduduwa who also got injured playing for the National U23 team has had his surgery and is strictly following our recovery plan.
“Segun will make a full and complete recovery and he will be back on the pitch soon. That’s what gives us pride, helping our people return to sports or any other endeavour and leading active, productive lives.”
A total of 30 women coaches have concluded the first of a three-module CAF C-License program in the Federal Capital, Abuja and are expected to commence a two-week internship with different teams in a few days.
Peopled largely by former Nigerian internationals and other serving coaches, the group was taken through a full week of rigorous classroom and practical sessions by a team of coach educators and resource persons, in a baptism of what the next two modules are likely to entail,
NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, told thenff.com that the first module has shown that the women coaches are actually desirous of learning.
“I am very much impressed with their attitude, mannerisms and conduct through the first module. They impressed everyone, and the coach educators also told me they were impressed, and are looking forward to having them back for the second and concluding modules.
“We are grateful for the leadership of the NFF for the support and encouragement for coach-education programmes all the time.”
The participants will return to Abuja for the second module that is scheduled for 12th – 20th August, after which they will go on another two-week internship, 23rd August – 4th September. The third module, which comes with examinations for the participants, will take place 9th – 19th September.
Dr. Terry Babatunde Eguaoje, NFF’s Head of Education, is among the coach educators’ team, which also includes Coaches Isah Ladan Bosso, Wemimo Olanrewaju and Lanrence Ndaks.
Among the 30 participants are former Super Falcons’ stars Precious Dede, Joy Jegede, Esther Michael, Maureen Eke, Otas Ogbonmwan, Vera Okolo, Cecilia Nku, Taiwo Ajobiewe, Gloria Ofoegbu and Amenze Aighewi. There are also Barr. Victoria Nlemigbo and retired FIFA referee Folusho Ajayi.
Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President and a FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has expressed shock at last month’s outburst by Super Eagles’ striker, Victor Osimhen against Finidi George.
“It is very unfortunate”, Amaju Pinnick remarked on an Arise Television programme. The former NFF president said he had put a call to Osimhen who was very remorseful while the telephone conversation lasted.
“I told him he has to apologise, and I am sure he will if he has not yet done so.” Amaju remarked that he could not comprehend what went wrong as Osimhen was the most cool-headed player in the national team.
He went on to remark that Finidi George was not a personality to be disregarded like that. He has won virtually every honour available during his playing days and was a member of the Super Eagles at their peak when Nigeria ranked fifth in the world.
“I believe players should learn to respect their coaches”, said the former NFF boss.
Nigeria’s FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has told the world that he has always been an advocate of foreign coaches for the Super Eagles. He spoke on Arise Television while fielding questions with Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni and Ayo Mairo-Ese.
His reason for being averse to indigenous coaches stemmed from lack of respect for them by the players.
“Yes, the Nigerian coaches have the requisite knowledge and the technical ability, but modern football is beyond that in managing players.
“Will the national team players respect the coach? The sad thing is that they don’t”, said Amaju Pinnick.
He however revealed that he supported the appointment of Finidi George owing to the circumstances that the NFF found itself after the exit of Jose Peseiro.
The NFF, he revealed, had no money to hire a foreign coach. The body therefore went for the most available option, Finidi to ensure a smooth transition.
“Finidi was part of the coaching crew of Peseiro and it was therefore logical to ask him to continue.
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