City football hero in Afghan bomb blast
30 November 2009
A FOOTBALL player and soldier was due to arrive back from Afghanistan today after being injured by a roadside bomb on Friday.
David Etale, a striker for city-based Spartans, was one of three soldiers wounded in the attack. It is thought the other two casualties were also from 3 Rifles, which is based at Redford Barracks. Mr Etale was left unconscious after the blast, with his back suffering the brunt of the impact, but he was said to be "recovering well" from his injuries and was able to walk and call home last night to speak to family.
His partner was expected to fly down to an army hospital in the south of England tomorrow to be by his bedside.
His teammates were left anxiously waiting for news after hearing of the incident just before Saturday's Scottish Cup tie against Forfar, which they went on to lose 1-0. His parents and sisters, who live in Kenya, were also informed.
Mr Etale, 23, began his six-month tour of duty in October and had been due to return to Edinburgh for nine days leave next month.
A professional footballer in Kenya who has won international caps, he joined the British Army three years ago.
Many of his relatives were killed in the fighting in his homeland and he now sends money home to help the rest of his family rebuild their lives.
Spartans chairman Craig Graham said players had been shocked by the news, and their thoughts were with Mr Etale and his family. He said: "Overshadowing all the football was the news that David was injured on Friday along with two of his colleagues in a bomb blast.
"We don't have too many details but we do know David is in hospital. We've been told his injuries are not life threatening. He can speak on the phone, walk a little, but has shrapnel in his back."
Mr Etale was due to be flown back overnight, arriving in Britain today.
Mr Graham said: "When people were first told, the atmosphere was very quiet, but I think David would have wanted us to be as focused as we could on the match. Since then, everyone has been very keen to find out how he is.
"He was really, really popular. He really loved football and his colleagues used to call him the 'tracksuit soldier'. He was also very keen to get involved with voluntary work in the community."
Shortly before he left for Afghanistan in October, Mr Etale had volunteered to take a group of youngsters to watch the Scotland versus Holland match.
Mr Graham said they were also very concerned about the other two soldiers, who have not yet been named. He said around 40 men from 3 Rifles regularly came to attend Spartans matches.
Mike Lawson, Spartans' joint manager, added: "The bad news from Afghanistan made the football seem insignificant. That famous 'life and death' quote by Bill Shankly all those years ago couldn't be further from the truth.
"When Craig phoned me just as I was leaving home to head down to the Academy, the news we had all dreaded hearing left me numb.
"Our thoughts go to David, all his fellow soldiers out there and their families back home."
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