Neal Collins soccer Lucas Radebe’s career has been thrown into doubt after two serious head injuries. The Bafana Bafana and Leeds United captain has been knocked out twice in less than a month – and admits he fears further problems after a series of brain scans. First he clashed heads with team-mate Michael Duberry in a Champions League clash against Barcelona at the Nou Camp on September 13. Then, on September 30, he cracked heads with Spurs striker Les Ferdinand. Both incidents resulted in hospital checks for Radebe, the inspirational leader from Soweto. Radebe, who lost consciousness after both injuries, confesses: “I am getting a lot of really uncomfortable headaches. I can’t say when I will be able to play again. “Those brain scans are frightening – you tend to fear the worst. There’s always the possibility it could be life-threatening. “I’ve been told to rest, especially after suffering the second injury. I have to wait to get the all-clear from the specialist – and he doesn’t want me causing any further damage. “You can’t take any risks. When it’s happened twice, you have to be careful. I’m getting frustrated not being able to play with all these big games in Europe, but there’s nothing I can do.” The first injury came when Radebe and Duberry clashed in the drubbing against Barcelona last month. On that occasion Radebe was carried off on a stretcher with a neck brace which left Leeds fans silent and fearful. Just 17 days later, rushing back into action after a surprisingly short two-game break, he crashed into Ferdinand. The hard-as-nails Radebe, one of nine children brought up in perhaps the world’s toughest suburb, attempted to play on. But when he reached the dressing room 14 minutes after the injury, he passed out and was rushed to hospital for further checks. There are questions which have to be asked after that astonishing recovery from the first injury. Was he rushed back purely because of the major injury crisis at Leeds? Did he have the medical go-ahead to play when rugby players who have been knocked out are advised to rest for three weeks? For a man who cannot afford to pull out of aerial challenges there is a real threat of further injury if Radebe becomes susceptible to concussion. Now 31, Radebe insists: “Time is still on my side. I’ve still got plenty of big games left in me. It’s just one of those things – I look forward to recovering.”