Dealing with Injuries

I’ve always asked myself, “how come a player always seems to incur a major injury during the least expected time?” Ever played a game that you’ve given over 100% without any fear or thought of an injury? The funny thing about that thought is, most of the time a player finishes an ultra risky game without a single mishap. But the million dollar question is, “how come when a player is trying or needs to be the most careful, that is the time injury comes knocking?” I think it’s fair to say that for us Athletes (soccer players), contracting an injury is the same as being given a prison sentence. Our coach and or team owner is our “defense Attorney” and the doctor is the judge rendering the verdict. At that point, any time we’re instructed to remain of the pitch is equivalent to being in prison. If a sport can serve as a person’s therapy, then that same sport’s injury could also serve as that person’s time of depression. After learning of the severity of the injury and the time we must tarry before full recovery, our minds become overwhelmed of trying to figure out what we’re suppose to do with ourselves during the healing process.

As for me, I was given the “medical sentencing” of 6-9 months for an Achilles injury I acquired during an ADASL Perin Cup’s semifinals. For the early days to weeks after my injury my mind was consumed with the thoughts of “what ifs”. What if I would’ve been subbed out of the game after we had a 4-1 lead on the opposing team? What if I didn’t have a selfish agenda of wanting to be the highest scorer for that tournament? What if I would’ve decided to miss that game knowing we had an easy opponent to content with? What if the game would’ve gotten rained out? What if my injury was simply a ankle twist? What if I would’ve had car issues on my way to the game? But after all the thoughts of “what ifs” and embedding myself in a state of anguish, I realized there was nothing I could do to change the past. I instead decided I had to prepare myself for what was to come. I survived the early weeks of my “medical sentence” by watching the WORLD CUP and rooting for Ghana. And by the end of the World Cup, I was out of the cast and off the crutches. LoL!!! Excuse me for the little chuckle, but looking back at the two previous sentences a little voice in my head just told me to “stop kidding myself, the waiting period is a dreadful experience”. I hated being stuck in the house for most of the day. I hated that whenever I left the house I had to tell my injury story over… and over…. because all of a sudden the world just seemed so, so, nosy. I hated being treated as a handicap by strangers who had no idea of my situation. For once, I saw the world through the eyes of a disabled person. I was able to see how kind hearted and at the same time extremely rude people are nowadays. LoL!!!! I REALLY HATED RIDING THE HANDICAP SCOOTER AT THE GROCERY STORE. All in all, this is not an experience that I would like to relive again. So my advise to all my fellow athletes is, always remember to warm up and stretch before and after every game or practice. But most importantly, whenever you play the game you love so dearly, play from the heart as if it was your last game. Do not let the fear of injury keep you from reaching your full potential in this game. As for me, I’ll be back competing within three months. See you then!!!!

PS: Click this link below to read about how Bayern Munich's striker is dealing with his "injury"

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1301744....