Times Of Swaziland: ‘MEGA’ TO RETURN TO FOOTBALL  

‘MEGA’ TO RETURN TO FOOTBALL  
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Ntombikayise Gwebu on 10/12/2024 07:15:00


MANZINI – Mbabane Highlanders defender Melusi ‘Mega’ Magagula, has
announced his intention to return to football once he has fully-recovered from
recent health challenges.
After battling vision impairment for nearly two months, Magagula has emerged
victorious in his fight to regain sight.The full-back was a spectator during the
clash between Nsingizini Hotspurs and Mbabane Swallows, which ended in a
goalless stalemate at Mavuso Sports Centre, this past Sunday.  A sizeable crowd
of passionate football fans gathered to witness the match, underscoring the
event’s significance.
A flicker of hope began to shine for Magagula when he attended the Mbabane derby
at Mavuso Sports Centre, alongside over 3 000 dedicated supporters, last month.
Highlanders suffered a 0-2 defeat to Swallows during the massive clash.
‘Mega’ was accompanied by family members for support and he left the pitch
following the match, visibly optimistic about his recovery. In an interview with
this publication, Magagula expressed his eagerness to return to the sport he
loves. “Yes, I will come back when I have fully-recovered. I love Mbabane
Highlanders,” he stated, in response to questions about his future now that
his vision has improved. However, details regarding when he would resume
training remained scarce at the time of this report.
Recovery
Reflecting on his recovery, Magagula shared: “I am incredibly happy with my
progress, and I thank God for this miracle. There were times when I lost hope,
and it’s still hard to comprehend how everything unfolded. Hearing and seeing
the joy of those around me is difficult to grasp, given what I went through.”
Magagula suffered a serious injury during a match against Royal Leopard at
KaLanga Technical Centre, just over a month ago, a setback that left his team
and supporters deeply concerned. The Edwin Matsebula-led side triumphed in that
match, winning 2-0.
Initial results from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans revealed a
surprising outcome. Despite his vision issues, the scans indicated no damage to
his eyes, a finding that left both medical professionals and Magagula himself
bewildered. The MRI, conducted over a month ago, reportedly cost around E15 000.
This non-invasive diagnostic imaging technique uses radio waves and a strong
magnetic field to create detailed images of the body’s interior.In a reminder
of the fragility of athletes’ health, Magagula’s situation echoes that of
American soccer star Jay DeMerit, who faced his own vision crisis on the eve of
the 2010 World Cup.
His country was scheduled to face England in an opening match. The then Watford
centre-back DeMerit had suffered a corneal infection after accidentally
scratching his eye with a contact lens, leading to the loss of 70 per cent of
his eye tissue in less than 48 hours. Emergency surgery ultimately saved his
sight, though he was confined to a darkened room for three months.