Matthew Mbanga

A life-changing motorcycle accident brought Matthew's promising rugby career to an abrupt end, leaving him with serious injuries and foot drop. What followed was a journey that not only transformed how he viewed his future, but ultimately led him to a life dedicated to helping others.

Matthew grew up in Zimbabwe, where sport played a major role in his life from a young age. Rugby became his passion and remained at the centre of everything he did throughout his school and university years. He captained his high school rugby team, represented Zimbabwe at Under-19 level and later captained his university team while studying in Texas. To those around him, he appeared to be successful and enjoying the opportunities that came with sporting achievement and leadership. Looking back, however, Matthew says: "I realised that what I'd been searching for wasn't success, it was purpose."

During his final year at university, Matthew was involved in a high-speed motorcycle accident that left him fighting for his life. He suffered a major head injury and spent five days in a coma. The accident also resulted in severe road rash across 17% of his body, multiple ligament tears in his knee, a torn hamstring and a severed peroneal nerve that caused foot drop. His recovery was challenging, with approximately nine months spent in a wheelchair while he remained unable to bear weight for much of his rehabilitation.

Throughout his recovery, Matthew's focus remained firmly on rugby. He believed he would find a way back to the sport that had been part of his life for so many years. Over time, however, it became clear that he wasn't going to regain the function he needed to play again, and he was forced to accept that his playing days were over. "The loss of rugby wasn't just the loss of a sport. It was the loss of my identity," said Matthew.

Although his physical recovery continued, Matthew found it difficult to move on from the loss of rugby and everything that came with it.

During his recovery, Matthew was given a book that challenged him to rethink his purpose. As he read it, he began to view the accident differently, focusing less on what he had lost and more on what he could do with the second chance he had been given. "There was really no reason for me to survive that accident. The fact that I did made me realise I'd been given a second chance," Matthew recalled.

The experience stayed with Matthew long after he left hospital. Rather than dwelling on what the accident had taken away, he started thinking about what he could do next.

After returning to Zimbabwe, Matthew started volunteering on leadership camps for orphaned boys. The more time he spent on the camps, the more convinced he became that this was where he wanted to invest his energy. "Helping those young boys succeed in life gave me the same feeling rugby once did, but with a much deeper purpose," said Matthew.

The experience led Matthew into a career focused on adventure-based leadership development. Over the years, he worked across Zimbabwe, Zambia and the United States, using challenging outdoor experiences to help young people develop as leaders.

Today, Matthew holds a doctorate in Transformational Leadership and serves as Director of Agriculture for a large organisation in Zambia. The organisation supports 55 orphans, provides education for 800 schoolchildren and employs more than 300 members of staff. As part of his role, Matthew oversees a farming operation that helps provide more than 1,000 meals every day.

Reflecting on the direction his life has taken, Matthew said, "I spent the first half of my life trying to get what I wanted. The second half has been dedicated to giving."

Despite everything he had achieved since the accident, Matthew was still searching for a better way to manage his foot drop. Over the years, he used different braces and supports, but they often felt restrictive, particularly when he was working outdoors.

Matthew first learned about Dorset Orthopaedic through his parents, who were living in southern England at the time. In 2013, he travelled to Dorset Orthopaedic to explore alternative options and received his first Silicone Ankle Foot Orthosis (SAFO). "Finding Dorset Orthopaedic was a breakthrough for me. After years of discomfort and limitation, it felt like I finally had my freedom back," said Matthew.

The SAFO made day-to-day life easier for Matthew. It allowed him to spend more time on his feet and take part in activities that had previously been difficult because of his foot drop.

With the support of his SAFO, Matthew was able to return to many of the activities he enjoyed before the accident. He hiked, climbed mountains and continued leading outdoor leadership camps. He also started running again and eventually completed a triathlon. "It wasn't just about walking better. It was about getting my life back," Matthew explained.

Today, Matthew continues to dedicate his life to helping others while embracing opportunities that once seemed out of reach. When asked about the greatest lesson from his journey, he reflects on the shift in perspective that allowed him to move forward. "For years I focused on everything I'd lost. Eventually I learnt to focus on everything I'd gained," said Matthew. “My advice would be to take a leadership role in your own life. Be humble, be grateful and take things one day at a time.”

Find out more

To learn more about the organisations Matthew has been involved with:

The Sable Accelerator (leadership and development programmes): www.thesable.org

AKC Living Village of Hope (orphan care, education and agricultural initiatives in Zambia): www.akclivillageofhope.com