From FELIX MALUNGA
In San Jose, Costa Rica-
ZAMBIA defender, Given Mukanda was on Tuesday night hospitalised here after straining her neck during the FIFA 2014 Under-17 Women’s World Cup Group A match against Venezuela at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica.
And the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is investigating a report of alleged racial abuse on Zambian players by their Venezuelan rivals.
Mukanda was rushed to Biblical Clinic after a severe blow to her neck in an aerial tussle during the match which Zambia eventually lost 4-0.
Team doctor, Womba Kadochi said the 15-year-old central defender was hit by a Venezuelan player when they were both in motion and that because of the severity of the blow, her muscles on the left side of her neck went into spasm, leaving her in severe pain.
Kadochi said because the blow was on a sensitive part of the body, the She-polopolo team medics followed the emergency procedure by rushing her to the hospital where basic investigations by the doctors at Biblical Clinic in the cervical spine were not conclusive.
She said a computerised tomography (CT) scan revealed that there was a mild displacement of cervical vertebrae.
In order to get a clear picture on the extent of the injury, Kadochi said, a magnetic resonance urography (MRU) scan was expected to be conducted later before she could be discharged.
She, however, said the general condition of Mukanda was good as she was able to talk and eat.
Sports Permanent Secretary, Agnes Musunga and other Government officials visited Mukanda to check on her condition. Musunga said medical examinations done so far showed that there was no major damage to Mukanda but that there was a slight inflammation.
She said the doctors put a hard collar (neck brace) to support the neck and help her stabilise.
Meanwhile, FAZ vice-president, Boniface Mwamelo said the association had instituted internal investigations over claims of racial abuse directed at Zambian players by their Venezuelan rivals prior to Tuesday’s match.
Mwamelo said FAZ had received complaints from the players concerning the matter and would get to the bottom of the issue to determine if indeed there was such an incident.