Prior to eventually having a career that stretched as long as 16 years, Ashraf Hendricks was involved in a car accident that could have led to his arm being amputated.
Hendricks had been in primary school at the time doubling up his football activities by also playing cricket.
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This was before he went on to make his professional debut as a teenager during the 200/02 season at Hellenic before he went on to play for Vasco da Gama, BidVest Wits, Moroka Swallows, and Mpumalanga Black Aces.
"So, after that car accident I was told I was left in a 50-50 situation where my arm could have been amputated," says Hendricks.
The scares from that accident remain visible up to his day as he had metal plate inserted on his left.
"Luckily, the arm held on together and I wasn't amputated, and I think it also helped that I was still a kid.
"When the accident happened my arm got stuck when the door opened while the car was rolling but luckily, I was told that I was helped by that I wasn't aware how serious this was.
"The blessing for me was that the car behind us was being driven by a doctor so he managed to secure the arm.
"So, from the time when the accident happened to when I woke up., I felt no pain.
"If I had known what had happened it would have turned worse because I would have been restless.
"The bones had to be brought together because everything had been broken off.
"There had to be a wait after the first operation to determine if the bones, muscles, and nerves would come together otherwise I would have been amputated.
"That week was the hardest but luckily, I came through.
"My mom always told me that I need to be put in a foam casing because after the car accident that kept me out for two-and-a-half years I came back and broke my other arm.
"I was out for another six months and then when I came back, I fell at home and got 20 stitches which kept me out for another three months.
"So, I had my fair share of troubles, but I felt those were the experiences that made me stronger.
"If all this had happened when I was older, I would have asked myself too many questions but being a kid that I was, I just carried on and made it work.
"I also went through being given a funny look by other kids at school which made me only wear long sleeve shirts.
"Even though the arm wasn't perfect, it never bothered me, and I went to play professional football," explains Hendricks who is the son of former footballer Suad and was taught by Nigel Crowie in high school where Lance Davids was also his classmate.
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