‘SIKHALI’S OPERATION CLOSE TO E400 000

MBABANE – Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa’s recent surgery costs an arm and a leg. Mbabane Swallows have incurred a bill of close to E400 000 for the gangling forward’s craniotomy surgery performed last week at Manzini Clinic.

The game-a-goal forward suffered a head injury during Swallows opening game of the season in the SwaziTelecom Charity Cup against bitter sworn rivals Mbabane Highlanders.

After the operation, the most complex and delicate to be done on a player locally, he was removed from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) late last week but remain hospitalised.

Though he is now in a stable condition, the goal machine faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.    
A craniotomy is the surgical removal of part of the bone from the skull to expose the brain. Specialised tools are used to remove the section of bone called the bone flap.

The bone flap is temporarily removed, then replaced after the brain surgery has been done.
Some craniotomy procedures may use the guidance of computers and or magnetic resonance imaging or computerised tomography scans to reach the precise location within the brain that is to be treated. This technique requires the use of a frame placed onto the skull or a frameless system using superficially placed markers or landmarks on the scalp.

Meanwhile, it will take ‘Sikhali’ up to two months to recover from the surgery. Remaining hospitalised, ‘Sikhali’ is in severe pain that doctors can ease at least after a week.

“It is actually one of the most delicate operations that can cost a minimum of E300 000 going up to E500 000, depending on how severe or complex the brain injury is,” said an independent doctor in one of the country’s private hospitals, who commented on condition of anonymity.

Swallows are still dilly-dallying on an official comment despite promises of a comprehensive report on the striker’s condition.
Zwane wrote on the club’s weekly column two weeks ago.
‘Sikhali’, who underwent a week-long trial stint with South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Supersport United during preseason, scored a remarkable 19 league goals in the previous campaign.

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