Rugby player Izu loses leg in action, NRFF rally round

The career of Nigerian rugby player Ebuka Izuchukwu came crashing down after he lost a leg while playing in a local tournament.
He was amputated just above the left ankle at the Igbobi orthopedic hospital in Lagos on Monday leaving family and Nigeria Rugby Football Federation officials distraught. According to NRFF president, Ademola Are, Izu was a promising player with a cool head, but now he desperately needs rehabilitation to live his new life.
“It was during the Racing 15 club tournament in Lagos. He was actually in Ilorin, Kwara doing business, when he heard about the tournament, he came down to participate in it.
“He got injured, he didn’t get proper medicare, he decided to seek traditional medicine to reset the fractured leg, unfortunately, it didn’t heal well. It deteriorated and the leg had to be amputated at the Igbobi hospital, we are all sad at the turn of events,” said Mr. Are.
The player popularly known as Izu, is now in need of funds to fix a prosthetic foot and it would cost a little over N3.5m.
“We are rallying around Izu to ensure he returns to normal life. His sports career is not over, there is whole lot he can do in and around sports.
“The federation is working with the Sports ministry. In fact the Sports minister Chief Sunday Dare is aware of the situation, hopefully we would do all we can to see that he is rehabilitated.
” I told him that it was not the end of the world for him. It is the beginning. There is a lot he can do in rugby, he can be on the desk, so whenever he is ready the doors of the federation are open for him.” Mr. Are