KERRY YOUNGSTER STEFAN Okunbor has suffered a blow in his Aussie Rules career as he faces surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon.
The Geelong Cats rookie player suffered the injury at training on Wednesday and will undergo surgery on Sunday, following a consultation with a specialist.
“The club will work closely with Okunbor on his rehabilitation plan over the coming weeks,” a statement reads on the Geelong Cats website.
An emerging Gaelic football talent in the Kingdom, the 21-year-old Okunbor signed for the AFL side in 2018. He played eight games for the Cats in the Victorian Football League [VFL] in 2019.
Okunbor won a minor All-Ireland medal with Kerry in 2016 and went on to become a prominent figure for the county’s U20 side under then-manager Jack O’Connor in 2018.
His performances drew applause that season, and he was honoured with the man-of-the-match award in his side’s Munster final win over Cork.
The Na Gaeil club man was also named on the EirGrid 20 U20 end of season list in 2018.
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So many GAA players are Suffering very bad injuries over there. Tommy Walsh, Ciaran Sheehan etc
@Buff Egan: you’re only saying that because they’re good players that went over there from here. Lots of players here get similar injuries and nothing is ever said. Nothing to do with going over there.
@Mark Mc Donnell: Well said
@Dulra Cork: GAA is rife with concussions and knee and hip injuries but there is nothing said. Every county/club team nearly always has some player out with said injuries
@Patrick O Connell: Hip injuries in particular. Players twisting and turning on wet ground consistently without the proper warm ups. The day I went to a surgeon he conducted 5 hip operations, the youngest was 30.
@James Elphick: “without proper warms ups” is the least of the issues.
Try an overloaded season for years and you have your cause.
@Buff Egan: spoken like a true hero
What the Fock would you know
@Buff Egan: a statistical analysis of those serious injuries among irish signings would be interesting. The type of phsysical contact allowed in Aussie Rules is certainly different. Does it produce more wear and tear in players over time?
Who is the most recent inter county footballer/hurler to rupture his Achilles?
@Pat Flavin: Michael Fennelly…did it myself as well if dat counts, can still remember the snapping sound
Given the choice again he may have chosen Croke Park with the club tomorrow!!!