The past nine months have been very challenging for Gżira United midfielder Jackson Mendoza after he was diagnosed with lymphoma. The Colombian player sat with Valhmor Camilleri on the SportsDesk podcast to relate his battle against cancer and resuming his football career…
Jackson Mendoza was enjoying life as a professional football player for Gżira United when last May he travelled back to his homeland Colombia for a short break with his family after completing his seventh season in Maltese football.
Little did he know that his life would change dramatically during his time with his family in Colombia.
A few days before he was due to return to Malta and start pre-season, Mendoza started to feel unwell.
“I went to Colombia to spend my holidays with my family there. After 20 days, I started to feel unwell. I had fever, felt cold every day and I immediately went to hospital for some checks. I did some blood tests but the doctors there didn’t find anything.
“I then made my way back to Malta and started the same medical procedures here. I had my blood tests and they didn’t find anything. Then they took a biopsy and found something. They then decided to put me for a PET scan and I was diagnosed that I had lymphoma.”
For Mendoza this was a huge blow for him as the news completely changed his life as at the beginning of July he started received chemotherapy treatment.
“It was a great shock for me,” Mendoza said.
“After taking my holidays, my mindset had already turned into the new season where I was looking forward to showcasing my talent and helping the club reach its objectives. Instead, I had to put my football career on hold and that was really tough to accept.
“Luckily, I received a lot of support, from my family and my girlfriend as well as my team-mates and the committee of Gżira United and that helped me a lot.
“The first thoughts that come to your mind, inevitably, are that you can die but I tried to be strong and I was continuously telling myself that I could beat this illness and can get my life back.
“Being mentally strong is very important when you are dealing with a fierce illness like cancer as sometimes you do not have the energy to do the simple things.”
Mendoza said that the support of his family, particularly of his partner, was crucial in his journey to try and recover.
“My girlfriend was very important for me as with all my family back in Colombia she was my rock and supported me in every way possible,” Mendoza said.
“My team-mates were always in contact and our club president Sharlon Pace is a friend and he was always available to give me his support in anything I needed.”
Mendoza singles out his faith as a crucial factor in his recovery.
“My faith is very important for me. I believe a lot in God and in this difficult time I put all my faith in him. I told God that I put my situation in his hands and will be ready to accept everything that will come.
“God gave me the strength needed to deal with this difficult situation.”
Luckily, for Mendoza there was light at the end of the tunnel as after eight months of treatment, the Colombian defensive midfielder felt strong enough to return to first-team training with Gżira United.
On March 2, Mendoza finally got back on the pitch when he came on as a late second-half substitute in Gżira United’s 1-0 win over Ħamrun Spartans and the Colombian said that he could not hide his emotions as he was about to enter the field.
“For me, it was a special moment,” Mendoza said.
“After nine months of treatment, I could not wait to play football again. I can tell you that when I got into the pitch tears started to flow as I was really happy that I had finally managed to return to do what I love most.
“It was a long wait for me. That moment was a special moment similar to when I made my professional debut and I am grateful to our coach Giovanni Tedesco for giving me this opportunity.”
Asked whether now that he has recovered his health he appreciates more every thing in his life, Mendoza said: “Since I was young I always tried to enjoy every moment to the full.
“But now that I have passed this difficult moment I appreciate things much more and try to enjoy every moment.”
Turning his sights on the future, Mendoza said that he is determined to get back to his best so he can try and help Gżira United get the best possible placing in the league.
“I am 100 per cent motivated to get to my best,” the 26-year-old said.
“Unfortunately, Gżira United are not in the best position in the team and I want to help the team to improve their placing. I am working hard during training to try and get to my best fitness so I can help the team.”
Asked what message he would like to pass on to those people who are experiencing similar health problems, Mendoza said: “My message is clear, try to be as strong mentally as possible as only with that mentality you can recover. Patients need a lot of energy and the support of their friends and families is crucial.
“One has to believe that he can make it at all times, even when everything looks bleak.”
Mendoza’s contract at Gżira United expires at the end of the season and the Colombian made no secret of his desire to continue to play football with Gżira United.
“To be honest after seven years playing football here, I feel like I have become a Maltese citizen,” he said with a smile. “I have seven matches till the end of the season when my contract will expire and then see what will happen.
“I need to sit down with the club and see what the future holds but I’d love to continue playing with Gżira United.
“But there is more time and I will use all the remaining matches to show that I can help the club in the future.”
