Ailments and their halted dreams Against the backdrop of the shocking news that Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme had been diagnosed with acute leukaemia, OLALEKAN OKUSAN AND OLUWAMAYOMIKUN OREKOYA, using agency reports, chronicle the athletes that have been bogged down with various ailments while still in action. It was obvious that the Super Eagles missed the services of Carl Ikeme during their AFCON 2019 qualifiers against South Africa, as injury ruled out the Wolves of England safe-hands. And when the news of his return to action was announced, the football family was relieved that the Eagles’ goalie will return to his post when Eagles battle the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun for a crucial two-legged Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers. But on Thursday, July 6, the whole world was jolted when Ikeme’s English Championship side announced that the goalkeeper would begin chemotherapy after being diagnosed with acute Leukaemia. The club through its Managing Director, Laurie Dalrymple said the 31-year-old Nigerian returned “abnormal blood tests” during pre-season testing and further checks confirmed the diagnosis. Having made over 200 appearances for Wolves, Ikeme had been with the team for his entire career, with 33 of those appearances being last season – having previously been in the team that won the League One title in 2013-14. “It would be an understatement to say that everyone at Wolves was shocked and saddened to hear the news of Carl’s diagnosis,” said Dalrymple. “That relates to both players and staff as Carl has been at the club for a very long time and remains such an integral personality within the group. “At the same time, we all know what a fighter and a competitor Carl is, and I have no doubt that he will take all of those attributes into this battle. “Similarly, its goes without saying that Carl and his family will receive the full love and support that we at Wolves can provide – we are all with him every single step of the way towards a full recovery.” However, Ikeme has received support from football clubs, players and teammates, both past and present, all offering their support to the goalkeeper. From the sad news of Ikeme, some top athletes including boxing great – late Muhammed Ali has also suffered some form of diseases during and after their rewarding career. Muhammad Ali One of the greatest boxers in history, Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984. Parkinson’s is a degenerative condition that affects the central nervous system. Ali was a staunch activist for Parkinson’s research and established the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in 1997. He died in 2016 after experiencing a respiratory illness. Respiratory illnesses can be complicated by neurological conditions like Parkinson’s. In a statement released in remembrance of the three-time world heavyweight champion, President Barack Obama said, “Muhammad Ali was the greatest. Period.” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, announced he had chronic myeloid leukemia in November 2009. Chronic myeloid leukemia is a slow-growing cancer of the white blood cells. The former Lakers Centre had been living with the disease for nearly a year before he decided to go public and become an advocate to raise awareness. He has since recovered from cancer and the 69-year-old can still be spotted at Lakers’ games. Martina Navratilova Tennis great Martina Navratilova went public with her breast cancer diagnosis in April 2010. The nine-time Wimbledon singles champion had ductal carcinoma in situ, a noninvasive form of the disease. She had the tumour surgically removed and went through six weeks of chemotherapy. Navratilova initially wanted to keep her condition quiet but decided to go public to raise awareness. Arthur Ashe Arthur Ashe is considered one of the most influential athletes in history for both his athletic prowess and his courage in the face of adversity. Ashe was the first black player to win the U.S. and Australian Open and Wimbledon. His career ended when he was diagnosed with heart disease in 1980. The next year he became chairman of the American Heart Association. Tim Howard Tim Howard is a goalkeeper for the U.S. national soccer team and the English soccer club Everton. Howard rose to prominence despite battling Tourette’s syndrome. This neurological disorder is characterised by involuntary movements and vocalisations called “tics.” Diagnosed at age 9, he has learned to manage his condition. He’s currently an outspoken patient advocate for the disorder. Howard’s memoir “The Keeper: A Life of Saving Goals and Achieving Them” shares his experience of living with Tourette’s syndrome. The post Ailments and their halted dreams appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

Against the backdrop of the shocking news that Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme had been diagnosed with acute leukaemia, OLALEKAN OKUSAN AND OLUWAMAYOMIKUN OREKOYA, using agency reports, chronicle the athletes that have been bogged down with various ailments while still in action.

It was obvious that the Super Eagles missed the services of Carl Ikeme during their AFCON 2019 qualifiers against South Africa, as injury ruled out the Wolves of England safe-hands. And when the news of his return to action was announced, the football family was relieved that the Eagles’ goalie will return to his post when Eagles battle the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun for a crucial two-legged Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

But on Thursday, July 6, the whole world was jolted when Ikeme’s English Championship side announced that the goalkeeper would begin chemotherapy after being diagnosed with acute Leukaemia.

The club through its Managing Director, Laurie Dalrymple said the 31-year-old Nigerian returned “abnormal blood tests” during pre-season testing and further checks confirmed the diagnosis.

Having made over 200 appearances for Wolves, Ikeme had been with the team for his entire career, with 33 of those appearances being last season – having previously been in the team that won the League One title in 2013-14.

“It would be an understatement to say that everyone at Wolves was shocked and saddened to hear the news of Carl’s diagnosis,” said Dalrymple.

“That relates to both players and staff as Carl has been at the club for a very long time and remains such an integral personality within the group.

“At the same time, we all know what a fighter and a competitor Carl is, and I have no doubt that he will take all of those attributes into this battle.

“Similarly, its goes without saying that Carl and his family will receive the full love and support that we at Wolves can provide – we are all with him every single step of the way towards a full recovery.”

However, Ikeme has received support from football clubs, players and teammates, both past and present, all offering their support to the goalkeeper.

From the sad news of Ikeme, some top athletes including boxing great – late Muhammed Ali has also suffered some form of diseases during and after their rewarding career.

Muhammad Ali

One of the greatest boxers in history, Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984. Parkinson’s is a degenerative condition that affects the central nervous system. Ali was a staunch activist for Parkinson’s research and established the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in 1997. He died in 2016 after experiencing a respiratory illness. Respiratory illnesses can be complicated by neurological conditions like Parkinson’s. In a statement released in remembrance of the three-time world heavyweight champion, President Barack Obama said, “Muhammad Ali was the greatest. Period.”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, announced he had chronic myeloid leukemia in November 2009. Chronic myeloid leukemia is a slow-growing cancer of the white blood cells. The former Lakers Centre had been living with the disease for nearly a year before he decided to go public and become an advocate to raise awareness. He has since recovered from cancer and the 69-year-old can still be spotted at Lakers’ games.

Martina Navratilova

Tennis great Martina Navratilova went public with her breast cancer diagnosis in April 2010. The nine-time Wimbledon singles champion had ductal carcinoma in situ, a noninvasive form of the disease. She had the tumour surgically removed and went through six weeks of chemotherapy. Navratilova initially wanted to keep her condition quiet but decided to go public to raise awareness.

Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe is considered one of the most influential athletes in history for both his athletic prowess and his courage in the face of adversity. Ashe was the first black player to win the U.S. and Australian Open and Wimbledon. His career ended when he was diagnosed with heart disease in 1980. The next year he became chairman of the American Heart Association.

Tim Howard

Tim Howard is a goalkeeper for the U.S. national soccer team and the English soccer club Everton. Howard rose to prominence despite battling Tourette’s syndrome. This neurological disorder is characterised by involuntary movements and vocalisations called “tics.” Diagnosed at age 9, he has learned to manage his condition. He’s currently an outspoken patient advocate for the disorder. Howard’s memoir “The Keeper: A Life of Saving Goals and Achieving Them” shares his experience of living with Tourette’s syndrome.

The post Ailments and their halted dreams appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.