Khano avoids surgery, may play second match
By Colin Thompson
Bermuda's Major League Soccer (MLS) star Khano Smith did not require groin surgery in a Boston hospital this week.
Smith had been named in a provisional senior national squad of 25 players ahead of Sunday's crucial World Cup qualifier with Cayman Island at the National Sports Centre, but was forced to withdraw his services after doctors at his MLS club New England Revolution had deemed him unfit to play.
According to family sources the 26-year-old pro footballer was due to have surgery to his groin in at a Boston hospital last Wednesday.
But rather than go under the surgical knife Smith decided instead to explore other options and remains upbeat he can regain match fitness ahead of Bermuda's away World Cup clash with the Caymans at the end of March.
"Surgery never happened. It was an option but I'm going to try other methods first," Smith said. "I'm still experiencing tightness in my groin but hopefully I will be fit for the second game against Cayman Island."
Smith's injury has now robbed Bermuda of one of its key cogs. However, Bermuda Football Association (BFA) technical committee chairman Mark Trott is confident the senior national team can still deliver the goods in his absence.
"I some respect I think it's a case of the players showing maturity that they can go and produce the goods whenever we have a key player out for whatever reasons," Trott said. "I think they see this as an opportunity to go ahead and produce the goods in Khano's absence."
National coach Keith Tucker echoed Trott's sentiments.
"Khano's position in actual fact is where we're pretty solid," he said. "We've Damon Ming, Domico Coddington, Lashun Dill, Cecoy Robinson and Tyrell Burgess. All of them can be very effective for us."
