Three years ago, Vincent Onyebuchi suffered a broken leg when he collided with then Express teammate and goalkeeper Fahad Katongole during their league game against Proline.
He was taken to Mengo hospital where he had surgery before being moved to Lisa Medical centre.
After the surgery, the Nigerian defender suffered an infection and was told by doctors he would lose his leg if further surgery were not done.
Onyebuchi was later admitted to CoRSU, the rehabilitation hospital in Kisubi, Entebbe Road, reputed for resurrecting many athletes’ careers through the standard but affordable reconstructive surgeries.
“I was like someone heading somewhere and in the middle of the way, falls and sinks in a river. Like my world had ended,” the defender told Daily Monitor in an interview recently.
Three years on, Onyebuchi believes he is close to full recovery and is grateful to a number of stakeholders particularly the Express family for help rendered during what has been a horrendous three-year journey.
“You can’t force nature. Even the woman treating me can’t tell when I shall be fully fine,” Onyebuchi says in a trademark soft tone But I hope, by the special grace of God by the end of this year, this leg will be fine.”
“I also thank God for all the prayers and support from the football fraternity, fellow players and my family back home. I’m equally grateful for the great job CoRSU did. They gave me the courage to believe again,” he added.
First, Express fans, led by Julius Bakunda and Express chief executive officer Hamza Jjunju launched a fundraising campaign to save Onyebuchi.
This included contributions from Nigerian High commission in Uganda who offered Shs1.5m and Uganda Premier League contributed Shs2m for the surgery that cost over shs10m.
Lately, it has been Express fans coordinator Abbas Byaruhanga, and city lawyer who has shouldered the burden, something Onyebuchi is grateful for.
“Abbas is an amazing person. He has always been there for me; he is not rich but he helps me with whatever he can. May God bless him,” Onyebuchi stated in the interview.
Onyebuchi is now hopeful he could soon be playing something that was unthinkable 36 months ago.
“You can’t force nature. Even the woman treating me can’t tell when I shall be fully fine,” Onyebuchi says in a trademark soft tone. But I hope, by the special grace of God by the end of this year, this leg will be fine,” he added.
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