A Burnaby mother is demanding answers after her son suffered a career-threatening concussion while playing soccer.
Jayden Maharaj plays goalkeeper for his team, the Burnaby Selects, and one day dreams of playing professionally.
But the 15-year-old suffered an injury that could end his dream during a game in Surrey on Sept. 28.
“A low cross came in along the ground and I went to pick it up,” he said. “Another player on the other team, he was going for the ball as well, he came in late and basically he hit me.”
The player’s shoulder made contact with Maharaj’s head, spinning him around and causing him to fall to the ground for several frightening minutes.
“I was just scared, because I knew that this might be the one that might not let me play ever again,” he said.
It’s the third concussion the teen has received playing soccer and fourth overall. He missed school and wasn’t allowed to play soccer for several months last spring because he suffered from terrible headaches related to another concussion.
Maharaj’s mother Shashi is now demanding answers from the B.C. Soccer Association, who she said needs to do more to advocate player safety.
“I feel that player safety needs to be the highest priority for the organization, and in doing so just teaching the players that respect for their opponent is really where it should be at,” she told CTV News.
Shashi said the hit that concussed her son was a missed opportunity to discourage rough play in youth soccer.
“When there’s a hit like that, there should’ve been a red card given at that point, and that wasn’t given,” she said. “So it’s not sending a strong message that that kind of play is unacceptable.”
A Burnaby mother is demanding answers after her son suffered a career-threatening concussion while playing soccer.
Jayden Maharaj plays goalkeeper for his team, the Burnaby Selects, and one day dreams of playing professionally.
But the 15-year-old suffered an injury that could end his dream during a game in Surrey on Sept. 28.
“A low cross came in along the ground and I went to pick it up,” he said. “Another player on the other team, he was going for the ball as well, he came in late and basically he hit me.”
The player’s shoulder made contact with Maharaj’s head, spinning him around and causing him to fall to the ground for several frightening minutes.
“I was just scared, because I knew that this might be the one that might not let me play ever again,” he said.
It’s the third concussion the teen has received playing soccer and fourth overall. He missed school and wasn’t allowed to play soccer for several months last spring because he suffered from terrible headaches related to another concussion.
Maharaj’s mother Shashi is now demanding answers from the B.C. Soccer Association, who she said needs to do more to advocate player safety.
“I feel that player safety needs to be the highest priority for the organization, and in doing so just teaching the players that respect for their opponent is really where it should be at,” she told CTV News.
Shashi said the hit that concussed her son was a missed opportunity to discourage rough play in youth soccer.
“When there’s a hit like that, there should’ve been a red card given at that point, and that wasn’t given,” she said. “So it’s not sending a strong message that that kind of play is unacceptable.”
The BCSA said it will be contacting the Maharaj family and the Burnaby Selects to get more information about the incident.
“There are very clear procedures in terms of disciplinary incidents and sanctions that are applied for different injuries that are caused,” said spokesman Paul Mullen. “It would be a matter of reviewing the referee’s report.”
Jayden’s family said they’re waiting for more information from experts before they decide when or if he should play soccer again.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Mi-Jung Lee
