Former Rangers starlet Dapo Mebude insists he’ll never give up on his dream to pull on the light blue again – just 10 months after a horror car crash left him in a coma.
The 23-year-old returned to Scottish football this month after signing a one-year deal with Dunfermline. But Mebude admits he feels blessed to still be kicking a ball at all having been told by doctors in January that he was lucky to be alive after his car crashed into a tree after going down an embankment in Belgium.
The former Scotland U21 international was playing with Belgian side KV Oostende at the time having turned his back on a new contract offer at Ibrox in 2021 to sign for Watford. The forward had been handed his debut by Steven Gerrard at just 17 in a league clash away to Kilmarnock.b But with Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe in his way, Mebude decided to chase first team opportunities down south before moving on to Oostende, Now the striker admits his brush with death has given him a new perspective on life and football.
First he wants to repay the Pars and manager James McPake for handing him a return to the big time. Beyond that the dream is to return to where it all started – Ibrox. Speaking to Record Sport , Mebude said: “I’m just looking forward to the future. I want to repay the faith Dunfermline has put in me.
“I owe the manager a lot. He and his coaching staff spoke to me a lot. What they’ve done for me at the club is really nice on a personal level. I feel really privileged and blessed to be able to play football again. Sometimes you forget and days just pass you by and you just play because it’s your job, it’s what you’re used to.
“But that time gave me some reflection and made me realise how lucky we are to do our jobs. I want to play for Rangers again one day. I would love to play at Ibrox. I made my debut when I was a young boy and then decided to take a different route.
“If it’s meant to be it will be. It would be great to play for Rangers again and that’s the dream, scoring goals for Rangers. I try not to live life with regrets. I left Rangers because I thought it was the best thing to do.
“There were two really good strikers in front of me. Alfredo Morelos was the main man and there was Jermain Defoe too. It was hard to see where the opportunity would come because I was knocking on the door for quite a while.
“I trained well and got my debut. But it’s a tough ask as a teenager to take the jersey off Alfredo or Jermain. But everything that’s happened in my career has led me to a point where I feel mature and happy in myself. You should always trust in your journey.
“Right now my best intentions and focus are on Dunfermline. So let’s take care of the here and now and then in the future we will see what happens.”
Mebude is back to full fitness just 10 months after the crash which left him in a coma for five days. With two appearances under his belt for the Pars he’s looking to kick on – driven by the memory of what he almost lost.
The forward, capped three times at U21 level, said: “I was in a coma for five days. When I woke up I remember my whole family being there. Because I was in Belgium I was a bit confused. I was obviously in pain although I was on a lot of medication to help that.
“I was overwhelmed by the support from everyone, my family, my club at the time, supporters back in Scotland, it was a crazy time but as soon as I got my sanity back, I was itching to get back on the pitch. I’m lucky to have been given this chance and I intend to take it.”
Mebude was talking at the draw for the quarter final and semi final of the SPFL Trust Trophy at Hampden.
Quarter-Final Draw
Livingston v Greenock Morton
East Kilbride v Ayr United
Dunfermline Athletic v Alloa Athletic
Queen’s Park v Rangers B or Stenhousemuir
Quarter-Final ties are scheduled for the midweek of 12/13 November and are subject to TV selections.
Semi-Final Draw
Queen’s Park or Rangers B or Stenhousemuir v East Kilbride or Ayr United
Dunfermline Athletic or Alloa Athletic v Livingston or Greenock Morton
Semi-Final ties are scheduled for the midweek of 28/29 January and are subject to TV selections.
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