Sheffield United man's midwife experience detailed as he delivers his own baby ahead of crunch weekend clash
Sheffield United loanee forced into extraordinary role after partner goes into labour
Sheffield United are always keen to expose their young players to all types of experiences when they send them out elsewhere on loan - but that escalated to an all new level for defender Jili Buyabu this week. The left-back joined National League promotion-chasers Forest Green Rovers for the season back in August.
He has since established himself as a key part of Rovers’ promotion bid under boss Robbie Savage, a 2-0 win at Gateshead last weekend seeing them go into this weekend fifth in the National League table.
Buyabu is expected to keep his place in the side for tomorrow’s clash with Aldershot but has had an eventful build up to the game - after he delivered his own baby yesterday. The 22-year-old’s partner went into labour in the early hours and there was no time to get her to hospital.
"Jili Buyabu had rung me at a quarter to 12 [on Wednesday night] saying: ‘I've got to take my partner to the hospital as she's due,’” Savage told BBC Radio Gloucestershire. “But it was a false alarm.
Sheffield United loanee forced into extraordinary role after partner goes into labour
“Then he woke me up this morning at 10 to seven and said: ‘Gaffer, I've just delivered the baby.’ I said: 'What, you?' And he said: ‘Yeah'. He was with his partner, the contractions started and he didn't have time to get to the hospital or get the paramedics there.
“So Jili has actually delivered the baby. When the paramedics got there he put them on the phone and he said: ‘Tell him'. They said: ‘Yes, he's delivered the baby.’ At 22 years of age, I am so proud of him. For him to do that it is a brilliant story."
Buyabu got the rest of Thursday off to be with mother and baby, who Savage reported are all doing well, before linking back up with his teammates to continue preparations for the Aldershot clash - and no doubt field all manner of questions about the experience.