‘MEGA’ TO RETURN TO FOOTBALL  

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.

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