NNAMDI Ofoborh says he was left “angry” Cherries “never really took it seriously” when he told them he was suffering with what turned out to be a serious heart condition, adding: “My life would be completely different if they had just listened.”
The 24-year-old has recently returned to competitive football after three years out of action.
Ofoborh joined Cherries’ academy as a teenager in 2016 and went on to make five competitive appearances for the club, all in the 2020-21 season.
With his contract coming towards an end, Cherries opted to send Ofoborh out on loan to Wycombe Wanderers for the second half of that season, before he left on a free transfer to join Rangers.
He would never feature for the Scottish giants due to health reasons, leaving by mutual consent in August 2023, before joining Swindon Town in March of this year.
Ofoborh played seven times for the Robins and has signed a new contract to stay with them next season in League Two.
After more than 1,000 days away, Ofoborh has now spoken publicly for the first time about his enforced spell away from the pitch.
He has now been fitted with a defibrillator, after it was discovered he had swelling in his heart.
Ofoborh explained how the problems first started towards the end of 2020, during a training session with Cherries.
He told the Athletic: “I couldn’t hear much, apart from my heart racing: boom, boom, boom.
“I felt like I was going to faint. I crouched over and after about 30 seconds it went away.
"I was like, ‘what was that?’, but then started training like nothing happened.
“I told the physio and the doctor but neither of us knew what it was, so they never really took it seriously.”
The issue came back again on January 2, 2021, as Ofoborh undertook some routine post-match running on the pitch at Stoke City, having been an unused substitute during Cherries’ 1-0 win there in the Championship.
“It was like I heard a bang and then everything started to happen,” he said.
“I said, ‘not again’, but my teammate Jordan Zemura heard me.
“While everyone else lined up to run again, I crouched over. Jordan shouted ‘Nnamdi, Nnamdi, Nnamdi!’ to the physio.
“I felt like I could faint, I could just drop right there.
“It is a crazy thought process when you consider how important your health is, but I was thinking, ‘if I drop everyone is going to make such a scene out of this with the media and doctors, so just don’t drop’.
“They told me to go inside but no-one brought it up again or checked it.
“If no-one tells me something is wrong, nothing is wrong. I’m not going to keep going back to you.
“They initially said I was probably just stressed about the contract situation.”
But the problems did not go away, this time Ofoborh feeling the effects during a match, twice in the space of a week whilst playing for Wycombe in March 2021.
He said: “I didn’t have time to crouch, so I just soldiered through it. It was like I was moving in slow motion and everyone was moving super fast.
“My coaches were shouting at me thinking I wasn’t tracking my runner, but in my head, I was thinking, ‘I could die right now’.”
The Wycombe medical team sent Ofoborh to see a specialist the following day and he would not play again for more than three years.
Reflecting on that time away, Ofoborh said: “I was basically bedridden.
“I was allowed to go out on walks, but my heart rate wasn’t allowed to go above around 100 beats per minute, so I only went out a couple of times.
“I was just angry at the world. Why isn’t the doctor finding what he needs to find, why is my body letting me down?
“Why didn’t Bournemouth take me seriously the first time I told them or help me after the second time?
"My life would be completely different if they had just listened.”
Both The Athletic and the Daily Echo contacted Cherries for comment. They were surprised to hear of Ofoborh’s experience with the club, explaining how their medical staff conduct regular cardiac screenings and treat these issues with the utmost importance.
They say they were unable to provide any further details on this specific case due to the high turnover of personnel in the medical department, as well as Zemura’s departure, since Ofoborh’s time at the club.
Now, Ofoborh is looking to the future.
The former Nigeria under-20 international, who came through the youth ranks at Millwall, is just excited to be playing again.
Reflecting on his first appearance for Swindon, coming off the bench in a 2-1 win over Notts County on Good Friday, Ofoborh said: “When I was out warming up, I couldn’t believe I was actually back.
“I feel like Iron Man now, so I tell my friends I’m Tony Stark.
“I think I’ve got past the toughest part, now it’s just about enjoying the fruits of my labour.
“It’s been a crazy journey, but I feel lighter now.
“To close that chapter and open a new one has been a real blessing.”
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