Guatemalan ‘keeper undergoes surgery

The young goalkeeper was first rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, and later taken to St Clair Medical Centre before finally being transferred to the Cocorite Community Hospital where surgery was performed.

The plucky Guatemalans went on to flog Aruba 8-0 and whipped St Vincent and the Grenadines 4-0 yesterday to advance to the semi-finals and dedicated their victory to Velasquez.

The entire team visited their injured team-mate at the hospital shortly after their victory.

According to Dr Roger Henderson who oversaw the player’s progress, Velasquez escaped serious brain damage and has since been responding well to treatment.

"There was an accident on the field and after a CT scan was done, it showed that he had a depressed skull fracture. That was a significant finding which usually requires us to elevate the fracture within a certain period of time which took place (at Cocorite Community Hospital) on Monday.

"We repeated the MRI scan to get confirmation of how bad the fracture was. It was in fact a bad fracture and we then performed surgery.

"One of the things that can result from a depressed skull fracture is seizures as well as permanent injury to brain and permanent disability if you don’t work quick enough to have the fracture elevated. Fortunately we were able to prevent this," Dr Henderson explained. Velasquez was wide awake when his team-mates visited him yesterday, and will be visited by his parents who are expected to arrive from Guatemala today following arrangements made by CFU president Jack Austin Warner who was also instrumental in ensuring surgery on Velasquez took place swiftly.

"I’m just glad to have had the operation and then wake up. I’m happy to see the other players around my bed and hopefully I can return home in a short time," Velasquez said via team vice-captain Gerrado Sanchez.

Later, Guatemalan coach Arturo Leiva commenting on his team’s showing so far, said their aim was to take the Cup back to Guatemala in honour of Velasquez.

"We are all very happy to reach the semi-final stage but I think all of this is for Jorge. We are more relieved that he’s alive and can speak with us today. Hopefully God will guide him through it.

"Our team has played some good football and so far the tournament has been a good one for us. Our goal is to take the Cup," Leiva said.