Specialists to unravel Nxumalo's fit cause

Ajax Cape Town will hope to discover more about the root cause of the epilepsy afflicting striker Prince Nxumalo this week as the player makes a second visit to specialists.

The 25-year-old has been one of the stars of the early part of the season for the Urban Warriors, which won him the Absa Premiership Player of the Month award for the month August and a call-up to the national team squad by Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba.

But his immediate future has been clouded by a sudden spate of epileptic seizures, the latest just minutes before he was due to play against Mamelodi Sundowns in a league clash at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday evening.

De Sa admits that he does not know when the player will be able to take the field again for Ajax, but says they will exert extreme caution to ensure his well-being.

Nxumalo was in the stands as Ajax drew 1-1 with Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday at the Cape Town Stadium, and De Sa says outwardly the player appears to be fine.

"Prince was at the game, he will be seeing specialists to get to the bottom of it," he said. "I'm not a doctor but that's the plan with him. He looks pretty good, but we will have to see."

De Sa said the player's latest episode in the seconds leading up to kick-off against the Brazilians was noticed by his teammates, who said he began slurring and making unusual hand gestures.

Epilepsy is a disorder that can be effectively treated with medication in around 70% of cases, and many sportsmen, including former Proteas cricketer Jonty Rhodes, have had successful careers despite being sufferers.

There are a number of causes of the disorder, from brain tumors to the fairly mundane, where a dietary change is needed.