Heartland midfielder, Elvis Ori was out of the reckoning on the football pitch for almost four months after he suffered a cheekbone damage last December in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) home tie with Bendel Insurance in Owerri. Now back in action with the Naze Millionaires, the former Bayelsa United player shares the unfortunate near-ending career injury and why he has chosen to wear face mask in an interesting conversation with TUNDE LIADI…
Saturday, 15th December 2024, will remain evergreen in the memory of Elvis Ori, the Heartland’s midfielder having sustained a devastating injury that could have rendered him physically damaged and a stop to his burgeoning football career.
It was a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 17 tie between home team, Heartland and Bendel Insurance with the Naze Millionaires leading through Promise Anyanwu’s early goal and the visitors came charging in the 78th minute but in an effort to ward off the incursion , Ori jumped up to nod the ball away from danger only to be fractured on his cheekbone by Insurance’s Uche Collins.
It was his last action in the tie as he was promptly substituted by Chinedu Ozor but it turned out to be a cheekbone fracture after initial attention by the club’s medics and that was how Ori landed in the hospital for emergency surgery.
Months after his recovery, the former Bayelsa United’s midfield Trojan recounted the experience as if it was yesterday.
“It was the game between Heartland and Bendel insurance in Owerri and we were already leading 1-0 when a cross came from the Insurance to our 18 yard box.” Ori told NationSport in an exclusive interview. “It was in my effort to head out the ball away from the on-rushing Bendel Insurance attacker (Uche Collins) that he headed my cheek and the bones broke in three places (I was later told).
“So, I was placed on surgery immediately after much check-ups and scans. My recovery wasn’t easy but thank God, I’m okay now.”
A grateful Ori would praise Heartland headed by Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke, for the promptness in ensuring that the surgery was not delayed which stopped complications that could have stopped his football career entirely. “For my recovery, I must commend the entire management of Heartland under the lead of coach Emmanuel Amuneke,” Ori further explained. “The team did a lot for me and I cannot forget in a hurry.”
He continued: “ They walked by me at every step along the way as they ensured my safety before, during and after the surgery.
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“Their constant check-ups were top notch, the motivation was nice from beginning to the end. In a nutshell, I would say my team, family and friends made me feel so much warmth that aided my fastest recovery.”
Ori disclosed that a lot came through his mind before the surgery including how his face would look like thereafter and if he could ever return to football because of the impact when the injury happened and fear off future occurrence since football is a contact sport.
But he got the needed answers from Dr. Chikwendu Cajethan Ejike, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Owerri-based Galaxy British Hospital, who assured that the surgery would be hitch free and that there won’t be any serious after-effect of the injury to stop him from continuing with his beloved football’s career.
Incidentally, Ori finally made his much-awaited return to football on April 2nd, 2025 -close to four months after the injury- in Heartland’s penalty shootout loss to Rangers International in the Round of 32 of the President Federation Cup played in Awka, Anambra State.
Despite the loss, it was a personal victory for Ori as he bounced back to reckoning albeit with his face mask to serve as a shield around his cheeks just as done for Super Eagles’ ace striker, Victor Osimhen when he suffered similar fate during his days with Napoli.
Though he is enjoying his football again, Ori hinted that he would continue to adapt to the realisation that has taken place since the collision and that with the face mask, he is not afraid to go for every ball knowing that he is fully protected.
“The difficulties are just adapting to the new changes of having an object on my face while playing knowing vividly that it wasn’t my life style but I’m adapting to it,” the midfielder said. “The advantage is that I have built my confidence knowing that my injury is now protected and I hope to wear the protective shield for as long as I desire because I am getting used to it.
“My fears were unlimited. I had too many thoughts at the time including how my face would look like afterwards. I was also afraid of the scars and that my career may be put on hold for quite some time and perhaps the end of it but glory be to God, I pulled through.”
Now wearing a face shield similar to that of Osimhen, Ori said it was only a coincidence because he and the Galatasaray star suffered almost similar injury and must now wear the protective shield to ensure they continue to enjoy their career; even as he shares what life could have been for him without the protective guidance under the meticulous coach Amuneke.
“Training under coach Amuneke is really an adventure,” Ori giggled. “ Every day new discoveries that promotes strength and confidence. The love and correction have impacted useful experiences to my career.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Ejike of Galaxy British Hospital who performed the surgery on Ori has given a vivid account on the steps taken to ensure that complex injury did not put paid to the player’s career.
“He had a right sided zygomatic complex fracture. It is a complex fracture because it is the fracture that involves the zygomatic bone, Zygomatic complex fracture and also the optic part which is the eye part of the bone,” Dr Ejike painstakingly explained. “It is a bone which articulates with 24 other bones. Whenever it is involved in a fracture, it hardly fractures as a single bone. It does but very rare in about 15 percent. In most cases, it fractured as a complex which means other bones which articulates with it like the maxilla, the optic and others get involved. He has a depressed fracture of the Zygomatic complex.
“Because this fracture occurred when his mouth was closed, he couldn’t open his mouth. He was finding it difficult to open his mouth. If the fracture had occurred when his mouth was opened the person would also find it difficult to close his mouth. It was a bad injury because with it, he couldn’t play football and could not eat. I had him diagnosed.
“The prognosis was fantastic and the surgery was successful; and he is fine.”
Dr. Ejike praised Amuneke for personally leading his technical crew and management staff to the hospital to enquire about the wellbeing of Ori as well as the prompt payment for the surgery.
He said he was surprised at the kind of attention showed to Ori by a club playing in the Nigerian league hitherto reputed for abandoning their players after injuries.
“I got a call from Emmanuel Amuneke that he was going to come. He actually came with his team and I briefed him the prognosis of the problem and what I planned to do for him. After the discussion, he was admitted and we had to stabilize him within 48 hours to get him ready for the surgery.
He shed more light on the process leading to the surgery: “While I was stabilising him we were waiting to get the implant because I operated him using the implant called titanium plates and screws. It required me to open up his face raising a flap identifying the bones and the fractured ones size and plaiting it each of the fractured ones and closing up the flap again.
“The plate is not already made or Nigerian made. It is not even African made. They were all imported. The two, three days before the surgery we were waiting for the plates to come in and luckily it came at the right time. We had the surgery. It was a surgery that took us about 2 hours, 30 minutes and it was successful. He was nursed in the recovery room and was moved back to his private room when he was stable. Cumulatively he was here for about five to seven work days.
“He was discharged thereafter and also was recalled on about weekly or two weekly basis for check-ups. When it was deemed fit, I declared him medically and surgically fit and advised him to return to football.
” However, One thing marvelled me during the whole process. I was so happy that a player playing in the Nigerian league could be showered with so much attention and love after he got injured. In the past you hear that players who picked up injuries in the local league were abandoned by their clubs.
“For Elvis Ori’s case, the coach with his entire technical crew was around. He also brought the management team and the Physiotherapist, Uche Okafor was fantastic. He was on my neck and all over me for things to go as planned. He was around almost throughout the process including being in the theatre while the surgery was done. It was the first time I am gearing that a player got injured and his team rallied around him to get full recovery. They also paid for his surgery.
“I am so proud to come in contact with coach Emmanuel Amuneke and the Physiotherapist, Uche Okafor and other technical and management crews who work assiduously to ensure that Elvis Ori fully recovered.
“I am also using this medium to thank Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, the Governor of Imo State, who is the sole financier of the club. Heartland FC is our club as Imolites but the Governor has oversight functions of the club.
“I am happy that Elvis Ori has recovered and to whom much is given, much is expected. I pray that his coming to the team will help the team to remain in the elite division beyond this season.”
Never the type to claim glory for personal feat, Amuneke waved off suggestion that it was his Yeoman’s efforts that proved crucial for the return of Ori back to football, adding his goal as the Technical manager of Heartland is to ensure that things are working perfectly since the welfare of players and officials are part of his priorities.
“The club owes it as a responsibility, to take care of the welfare and wellbeing of the players and other officials in the team. As regards Ori, we did what we were supposed to do because he is our player,” Amuneke said. “We gave him all the attentions because we were concerned when the injury came. We do not want to do anything that will jeopardize the career of any of our players and other officials.
“I must thank His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, for helping us to gradually realise our objectives. His impact in the club has been massive,” noted the erstwhile Barcelona winger and the 1994 African Footballer of the Year.