A Marvelous response to injury woes
MARVELOUS Nakamba has spoken for the first time about the devastating knee injury he suffered in December.
The Villa midfielder – a shining star during Steven Gerrard’s first month as head coach – damaged ligaments in the 1-0 defeat at Liverpool. Nakamba, 28 (pictured), is hoping to return to action before the end of the season and revealed: “After the game ended and we did some tests, that’s when our physios said, ‘Yeah, this needs some treatment!’
“It was my first time having surgery and the first time experiencing all of those things. “I’ve been continuing to speak with the medical team, who tell me how to make my leg stronger and to recover faster and quicker and so on.
“Injuries are frustrating at any time but I’d just won the player of the month for the club and I was getting more game-time. “Steven Gerrard and his new team came in and I’m grateful for the chance I got from them. I was enjoying the training and improving.
“Unfortunately, I got the injury and now I have to work hard on coming back stronger.” Nakamba was forced to withdraw from the Zimbabwe squad for January’s Africa Cup of Nations, adding: “The timing was very, very bad. There was the Africa Cup of Nations, so it was very frustrating for me.
“I had to support the guys that went there to do the best for the nation. It was out of my control.
“But people around me have been encouraging me but I also knew in myself that these things can happen. I have to soldier on and focus on getting better, becoming stronger and stronger.
“I’m working on being stronger mentally, physically, everything. I try to keep myself positive, you only live once. It could be worse. There are other people in worse situations. I keep myself positive and happy.
“My team-mates have been there for me from the day I had my surgery, supporting and encouraging me. Some of them have been through these injuries.
“It was more of a confidence thing for me, hearing my team-mates encouraging me, telling me not to worry and being with me. I also had the aim of supporting them when they’re playing. It’s one big family.”