MEKALA Osborne, the 23-year-old personal trainer who was given a five per cent chance of survival after falling ill while on holiday in South East Asia in 2019, is taking up a lead role at her former hockey club.

Former Preston Lodge High School pupil Mekala will become coach of Preston Lodge Ladies Hockey Club.

Mekala grew up playing sport, including karate and football, before getting involved in her school’s hockey team, of which she was captain, and later Preston Lodge Ladies.

She has played for Preston Lodge Ladies since the age of 14, progressing from high school into the club’s first team.

Mekala is hoping to be able to return to playing hockey, something she says is keeping her motivated during her recovery.

She is also keen to return to personal training, currently offering the service to friends and family.

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In her new role, she will be supported by current coach Angie Davie.

Mekala said: “I started playing for PL Ladies when I was 14 and the club has been a huge part of my life.

“The whole team have been so supportive throughout my recovery.

“I’m excited to step up as their coach and give something back to the club that has always been there for me.

“I’m really excited. It will be hard and it obviously will be tough watching them all play knowing that I won’t be able to for a while, but I will have the end goal in mind.

“It’s all came together quite well; it is a perfect job that doesn’t take up too much time. I’m just trying to get back to some form of a normal life.

“I still have time to focus on my recovery, which is going really well. I’m constantly improving. I’m now walking around the house without crutches. But there is still progress to be made.”

Mekala, who now lives in Wallyford, has defied all the odds since becoming ill, despite her family being told to “expect the worst”.

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At hospitals in Vietnam, Singapore and Edinburgh, she underwent intense treatment for necrotising pneumonia, which included invasive surgery on one lung that had fully collapsed.

She returned to Scotland in November 2019 and underwent rehab at the Astley Ainslie Hospital in Edinburgh from March last year. Mekala was able to return home in December where she has continued her recovery, including ongoing physiotherapy.

During her recovery, Mekala has been completing several coaching courses, which have helped her take on her new role.

She will organise and facilitate all of the club’s training sessions, as well as providing support and coaching at all games.

She also hopes to promote hockey by liaising with Preston Lodge High School and looking at supporting a pathway into ladies’ hockey.

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Mekala is due to start the new position at the end of August. Preston Lodge Ladies train at Meadowmill Sports Centre, near Prestonpans, every Tuesday.

Club president Jacqui Cotterell described Mekala as “a valued member of the club”.

Preston Lodge Ladies currently has two teams, both of which are in the east district leagues.