Udoh Not Down With Stroke—Enyimba FC

Aba-based Enyimba Football Club has reacted to reports that its player, Mfon Udoh, has missed some league games due to his battle with stroke.

The club management, in a statement issued on Wednesday, described the reports as “entirely false and misleading.”

Enyimba FC blamed the author of the story, Saab Osuji, who writes for Complete Sports, for not following “the ethics, standards and good practice of journalism” before publishing the story. The club said Osuji “made no attempts to speak with our medical team, as one would expect, in a matter related to a player’s health.”

Explaining what actually happened, the club said, “Mfon Udoh suffered a bout of common cold just after our Matchday 7 game against FC Ifeanyi Ubah in Nnewi on May 3rd, for which he consulted our medical unit and was given the right medication to improve his wellbeing. This kept him out of the team that hosted Giwa FC on Matchday 8 a week later.

“When he had not recovered fully ahead of the trip to Dolphins on Matchday 9, he was referred to Wimpole Clinic Aba, one of the medical centres we partner with for observation by Dr. Onyeike Kalu.

“It was under intense scrutiny and after tests had been conducted was it discovered that Mfon Udoh’s cold had brought him facial nerve palsy, or Bell’s palsy, as it’s also called.

“This illness causes the loss of some facial movement, due to nerve damage. Facial muscles droop and become weak on a side of the face.”

Enyimba FC explained further that, “Anyone familiar with medical conditions knows that common cold is the name given to a contagious viral disease which infects the soft lining of the nose and throat. It is believed that this infection is the cause of Udoh’s facial nerve palsy but we are pleased to announce that he has made great recovery and will be with the team soon, doing what he loves best.”

The club stressed that, “At no time was he paralysed or lost the ability to move himself. He remains active and has kept in touch with our Team Doctor, Ferdinand Ajere, who manages his physical therapy. Above all, God is the Ultimate Healer and we believe His healing and protective hands have covered Mfon Udoh and will continue to cover him.

“In a matter of days, Udoh will resume normal training with the rest of the team, get on the pitch and bang in those goals we all love him for.”