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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter

HIGHLANDERS Football Club defender, Andrew Tandi has fully recovered from a career-threatening injury that he picked up in May, during a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash with Dynamos.

The 26-year-old, who can play at central or right side of defence had his 2021/22 season coming to an abrupt end after fracturing his right fibula (calf bone) and dislocating his ankle in the abandoned Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium last Sunday.

Tandi then went for an operation and had his procedure involving a metal supported by pins put on the fracture, with the pins taken off after six weeks.

He then stayed on the sidelines recuperating before he was given permission by the medical team to start light training.

Tandi only started contact training, being involved in tackles when Highlanders started preparing for the Unity Day Cup against Dynamos, which was supposed to have been played at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday. The encounter was called off as the organisers of the encounter allegedly didn’t follow protocol in terms of planning for the game and also failed to get sponsorship.

Chronicle Sport caught up with Tandi after Bosso’s last training on Tuesday and the defender was ecstatic to be back.

“It hasn’t been easy but I’m happy to be back on the field. Thanks to the support I got from the specialist, the team’s medical staff, the club, my teammates, friends and fans. Their support kept me going.

“You know what, I had to be mentally strong to survive and recover. Some of my colleagues who have been in similar situations before were helpful as they kept telling me that it will be okay and I mustn’t be afraid to step back on the field. That has helped a lot and now my focus is on getting back to fight for the jersey.

“I’ve been involved in all the training sessions that we held this December preparing for the Unity Day Cup and I had hoped to make a comeback at the competition, but now I have to wait for next year,” said Tandi.

Andrew Tandi

He said a quick reaction by the Highlanders medical team alleviated more harm to an injury that comes with damage to the ankle ligaments.

A local orthopaedic surgeon who operated on Tandi has done procedures on a number of footie stars including Winston Mhango and MacClive Phiri.

The specialist operated on Mhango in October 2013 after the midfielder suffered a career-threatening injury when he fractured his tibia (the long leg bone) against Shabanie Mine while turning out for FC Platinum. Mhango stayed on the sidelines for 14 months, returning to action in 2015.

In May 2019, Phiri stayed on the sidelines for 12 weeks when he fractured his right humerus after a violent push by Herentals midfielder Tinotenda Benza during a league match. — @ZililoR