Allergic reaction to bee sting won’t stop Ali Vessali returning to field for embattled Aldinga Sharks
TO SAY the start of the footy season has been unkind to Aldinga Sharks player Ali Vessali is an understatement.
TO SAY the start of the footy season has been unkind to Aldinga Sharks player Ali Vessali is an understatement.
But the 27-year-old utility — who was hospitalised with a bee sting while the embattled Sharks copped a third straight hiding — has returned to training vowing to help turn the club around.
Playing just his second game for the Southern Football League club, Vessali was stung by a bee after swallowing it on the field in the first minute of Aldinga’s 254-point loss to Morphett Vale on Saturday, April 12.
He’d had allergic reactions to bees before so immediately ran off the field to have it checked out.
Soon Vessali was off to Noarlunga Hospital but the car could not get there quick enough.
Amid the drama he wished he could have been back on the field helping his teammates.
“It had started swelling up a bit,” Vessali said.
“There was a bit of panic for about two minutes when we were at the car at a set of red lights on the way to hospital.”
MORE: SHARKS PLAYER HOSPITALISED
Doctors gave Vessali antihistamines and adrenalin before he was kept in hospital for about 11 hours.
“I would’ve been in a bit of trouble if I was a fair way away from hospital but luckily I wasn’t.
“The bee sting was just a cherry on top of a pretty average start to the year I guess.”
Vessali, who has previously played for Portland and Murrayville, joined Aldinga this season after following mates to the club.
He played in the Sharks’ 157-point loss to Hackham in round one but injury kept him out of the side for their 300-point defeat to Port Noarlunga the following week, which led to the sacking of coach Shane Lynch.
MORE: COACH SACKED AFTER MASSIVE LOSSES
Vessali, of Woodville West, said he did not regret changing clubs and Aldinga remained optimistic things would soon turn around.
“We haven’t had a full squad on the pitch yet properly and injuries have haunted us so far.
“There’s an air of unity around the club, there’s more numbers out at training and we’re starting to get some local faces popping up.
“Hopefully all the publicity works in a positive way for the footy club.”
Aldinga’s next game is against Marion at home on April 26.