‘BULL’ STAR IN 5-HOUR COMA

MHLUME – Talk about a fortunate survival.
This is the remarkable story of Mbabane Highlanders’ versatile player, Sibahle Sukati, who was rendered unconscious for approximately five hours after being struck on the back of the head by the ball. This incident took place during the match between Highlanders and Green Mamba at Mhlume Stadium, this past Saturday. Green Mamba emerged victorious with a score of 2-0.

collapse

As the match neared its conclusion (around 5pm), Sukati was struck by the ball, causing him to collapse instantly and lose consciousness. Medical teams from both Highlanders and Green Mamba swiftly arrived at the scene to provide assistance. Initially, the situation appeared to be a routine injury; however, after five minutes without any signs of improvement, team officials, along with players and medical staff, made the decision to carry him off the field on a stretcher. In the absence of ambulances, he was transported to Mhlume Clinic in a Highlanders official’s vehicle.

Upon examination at the clinic, Sukati exhibited no signs of responsiveness, leading to his transfer to Mbabane Government Hospital. Despite further examinations at the hospital, he remained unresponsive until approximately 10:30pm, on the same day. He is admitted and is expected to be discharged today after a doctor’s scan. In a statement, Highlanders’ Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Musa Masuku confirmed Sukati’s recovery after what had been a distressing episode. “We are relieved that he has begun to respond; it was around 10:30pm when he started to respond to the doctors’ examinations. They will conduct a scan on Monday (today),” Masuku stated.

He expressed gratitude towards Green Mamba officials for their sportsmanship during the incident, particularly highlighting the support from Green Mamba’s CEO, Mandla Sibiya, who consistently checked on Sukati’s condition. Masuku also thanked the Acting CEO of the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE), Pat Vilakati, for being present at Mhlume Clinic. Makhosonkhe Gama, the Highlanders team Manager, also extended his thanks to everyone who rallied in support of the team during this challenging period. “Football enthusiasts kept calling to enquire about the player. I was with him at the hospital in Mhlume, and it was truly disheartening to see him unresponsive. We are overjoyed that he has finally regained consciousness.”
 

Sukati, on the other hand, expressed profound gratitude to God for the gift of life. “The only thing I remember is calling for my teammate to pass the ball to me and the next moment I woke up in hospital here in Mbabane.” The player thanked the doctors, his teammates and all stakeholders who contributed to his recovery. “The doctors will scan me tomorrow (today) to determine if I am fit to be discharged, and I am hopeful that I will be released.” Meanwhile, this is not the first incident involving Highlanders. Recently, defender Melusi ‘Mega’ Magagula lost his sight during a match against Royal Leopard in September 2024, but fortunately regained his vision after over a month.

In football, incidents where players lose consciousness after being struck by the ball or during collisions are serious and can have far-reaching implications for player safety. While specific cases of footballers losing consciousness directly from being hit by the ball are less frequently documented, the risk is certainly acknowledged within the sport. There have been instances where players have collapsed or displayed signs of severe injury after collisions, which can lead to loss of consciousness. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) is said to be working towards improving its rules and protocols regarding unconscious players, emphasising the importance of player safety and the need for immediate medical evaluation in such situations.
(Additional information by Ashmond Nzima)

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