Vincentian footballer suffers broken neck

Vincentian footballer Justin Stapleton suffered a broken neck during a football match in the USA last Sunday.{{more}}

Stapleton, 23, is a former national Under-16, Under-17 and Under-23 player.

He also had a brief stint with the senior team, before moving to the USA to attend college there on a football scholarship.

Reports are that Stapleton, a defender, fell awkwardly during the match, which resulted in him breaking his neck.

Ian Sardine, the man who nurtured Stapleton’s football career here, informed SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday that an operation was carried out on Stapleton on Tuesday, to insert a “plate’ to support his spine.

Stapleton played with Sardine’s club System 3 from the youth level up to the senior team.

Sardine reported that Stapleton, a former St Vincent Grammar School student, had recently completed an associate degree in Business Management at ASA College, and was positioned to move on to another institution.

Renson Haynes, a former national player, who resides in the USA, told SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday that efforts are being made to raise funds to assist in Stapleton’s rehabilitation.

Haynes said that a St Vincent and the Grenadines select team will play two friendly matches this weekend in New York, to raise funds for the benefit of Stapleton.

He stated that this would be the first of many fund-raisers, as Stapleton’s recovery would be arduous.(RT)