Injured FC Talanta centre back Shela Mandela can sight light at the end of the tunnel after a favourable medical report and affirmation from doctors resuscitated hopes of playing football again at a competitive level. Mandela last kicked the football during the aggressive scene on 9 April, a date he wishes not to remember as he came off a nasty head collision with Wazito forward Collins Neto. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8.572201383453738e+21##So bad was the clash of heads between the two that Mandela suffered a depressed skull fracture that necessitated surgery at the Kenyatta National Hospital two days later. In an era where there is increased scrutiny on head injuries in sports, Mandela’s instance would have easily cost him his career given the magnitude of the concussion, and the subsequent opening of the skull at the theatre.Tum’s rallying call for stakeholder partnerships in fight against dopingBut there is everything to smile about for the battle-hardened centre back after he revealed that the doctors at Kenyatta Hospital assured him he will be fit enough to resume training from September. “It was a huge relief for me to survive the ordeal. I only remember going high to head the ball and waking up in excruciating pain at Kenyatta Hospital. I am grateful to the Almighty God for the second chance at life and football. The doctor says, I should be ready for training from September,” he said. To establish the exact week or date to rejoin the rest in training, Mandela, who joined Talanta three years ago from the defunct Nairobi Stima will have to do another check up late in August. “I am doing well and looking forward to more positive news when I return for another check up in August,” he said. Meanwhile, the 30-year old, is indebted to the Talanta fraternity for availing the required financial and moral support at the hour of need. Kenya has to get its organization right – FiratThe defender who had a brief stint with Swedish side Kiruna FF in 2015 singled out the club’s Human Resource manager Joyce Owiti, the playing unit, physiotherapist Frankline Osama for being there for him. “I haven’t used a coin from my pocket from the time I got injured. The club has been taking care of my medication. Members of the club have been checking on me on a regular basis,” he added.
