Road to recovery with Phil Zabaks
?I went for the ball in the usual manner and remember running off the line, diving and spreading myself but then nothing until waking up.
?When I came to I had double vision and said I needed to come off and that was the start of it all.?
Once known for his speed off the line his nickname of ?Zippy? took on new meaning when the staples resembled a huge cranial zipper but he states: ?I went to training last Friday and was given some head gear to wear by Cliff (Pointer) so the lad?s started calling me Petr Cech (Chelsea) but other than that no-one has really come up with any new names…other than you,? he laughs.
It hasn?t been easy for the likeable lad but he knows that God is looking out for him and this is just part of the design he has set out for him: ?We have spoken before that my belief in God is a huge part of my life and I believe he has allowed this to happen for a reason that I am unaware of yet but he is looking out for me and it is all part of the plan he has for my life and I accept that which is why I am not angry about the accident and that is something a lot of people don?t understand.
?It was strange to put the head gear on to train but it is surprising how quickly you get used to it and don?t notice it.?
When we last spoke there were obviously a number of issues causing mild concern that the last few weeks have been able to quell to a certain degree but it remains a long road to full recovery: ?At the training session I was able to concentrate better which I was having difficulty with immediately after the surgery but I did have a problem with the shooting practice as I wasn?t able to keep up with the speed of the ball yet but that will come and was really just a test of where I am up to at the moment.?
It is likely to be another four weeks before Zabaks is ready to resume full training after he has had the final scan on the injury (June 7th) but is circumspect about playing again during this campaign; ?Of course I would love to come back and play this season but I am not going to push it and I would seriously need to look at the position we are in at the time and whether I feel I would be in a position to help in a positive manner otherwise I wouldn?t be doing the team any favours.?
We?ll look further into the repercussions next instalment but until then we wish Phil and his family a very speedy recovery.
-By Micky Brock
