Ofori opens up on horror clash with Mako: I had sleepless nights!

The 28-year-old Mako was involved a horror collision with his Pirates teammate Richard Ofori during a recent DStv Premiership match against Baroka FC. Both Mako and Ofori went for the same ball after the keeper had come upfield, with his knee colliding with the head of the sweeper.

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Mako lost consciousness, and was quickly attended to by the team’s medics, before an ambulance was brought onto the pitch to offer urgent medical attention while his team-mates – and the Baroka FC team – huddled together. Many seemed close to tears as they shielded him from the cameras.

It’s since been confirmed that Mako suffered a fracture to the head, and after undergoing surgery, is now continuing his recovery at home. He is only expected to be back in action next season.

Ofori has now spoken for the first time since the incident.

“First of all I would say thank God for the protection that very day because I saw something that I don’t want to even talk about because it was so bad when I turned and looked at my brother and my brother was lying down,” he told Maskepe Matsebane on PowerFM Sports Extra.

“It wasn’t easy for me but I thank God that he gave me that strength to come back strong.

“Even that night I couldn’t sleep, the whole the morning it was so tough for me because when I thought of the incident and the blood I saw that day it was so bad. I thank God that he gave me that strength to move on.

“I went to check him at the hospital, the doctor assured me that he is better. Even that very night they took him to hospital, the next day they brought him to Joburg, I went to the hospital the whole night to be with my brother.

“He finished his operation, I was there I asked the doctor if everything was okay the doctor said ‘Yeah, everything was fine’ before I started to get that relief because sometimes in this game small things can take you back, so to come back again it’s difficult so I know how it feels,” he added

“I was feeling bad for my brother but I thanked God that he is healing now and everything is going well. Even today he came to the training, I was very happy to see him and I’m very happy that everything is fine and he is getting well.”

Immediately after the game, co-coach Fadlu Davids said Ofori had understandably taken it “quite hard”.

“Of course, in the first step when you have the clash, you feel responsible,” Davids said, as quoted by iDiski Times.

“But in actual fact he’s not responsible, he’s going for the ball, I watched the replay now again, both of them look at the ball and then his knee hits him [Mako] in the face, and yeah it’s a knockout.

“He [Ofori] has got a wound on his knee that also made him realise how serious it was. For him to have such a wound, he must’ve knocked him really hard.”

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Pirates released this statement on Mako immediately after the incident

Following the emergency injury involving defender Paseka Mako in the DStv Premiership clash against Baroka FC last night, Orlando Pirates Football Club can confirm that the 28 year old is in a stable condition.

The doctor has revealed that CT scan results have shown no signs of skull fracture or any brain haemorrhage however, the player has sustained fracture to the face and nose.

He will remain in High Care and will be assessed by the neurosurgeon again this morning.