It’s been a while since I posted on here with an update on how I’m doing, so here’s a little bit of what’s been going.

Physically I am feeling as good as I’ve felt since the injury first happened. This last week was a breakthrough week because I accomplished things I didn’t even plan on accomplishing. For example, after training on Tuesday, I decided to start dribbling the ball and taking shots at the goal. I haven’t tried to do this since the injury, or even been encouraged to do this by the doctors and trainers I’m working with, but I just felt that I’d be able to do it. Surprisingly, I felt pretty good as I dribbled and took some shots with my right foot (the injured leg). I ended up doing more than I probably should have and felt a little bit sore afterward but who cares right? It’s a step in the right direction. Today (Thursday) I actually joined the team for the first part of warm ups, and did everything my team mates did in terms of jogging, stretching, and agility exercises. I stepped out once the ball was thrown into the equation and trained on the side with one of our trainers. We did some advanced ball work in comparison to what I’ve been doing and I felt really good again. Looking forward to training on Friday so I can finish off a good week.

I guess the next step for me is the final phase, which sometimes is the hardest phase of all. I need to work on being able to sprint fully, strike the ball with the power I had before, be able to change directions at speed, take hits, and have equal strength in both legs (or as close as possible). Those are my goals now and they’ll be hard to reach but I love a challenge! A lot of it depends on me – my desire, work-rate, effort, and dedication – but some of it is also out of my hands. For example, I can’t control the rate at which my nerves regain strength, and also how quickly my leg will be able to take the impact it used to take. I’m doing everything I can to be back to 100% soon…. I don’t know when that will be. If it’s in a month I’ll be ecstatic! If it’s in a year I’ll be ecstatic! If it’s in 2 years I’ll be ecstatic! I just want to play again one day – that’s where my focus is!

I’m sure some of you may have seen the freestyle video I put up on YouTube (Steve Z Quote Me) a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for the positive feedback. As I’ve said plenty of times before I’ve been into that kind of music since I was a kid and I used to go on radio stations in London with my friends on a weekly basis to do some of what I did in the video. I do it purely for fun and because it’s a hobby of mine!

If you get a chance, pick up a copy of the latest Official Arsenal Magazine and read the interview I did for the team I grew up playing for. I’m sure there are some online versions out there by now as well.

For everyone in the Seattle area, let me recommend a restaurant – Island Soul. Authentic Jamaican food and a great vibe (especially on a Friday/Saturday night with live music). Google it and pay them a visit!

Thank you all so much for your support, encouragement, and comforting words these past few months. It means a lot to me and I’m convinced that the best is yet to come! Talk to you all soon. Feel free to leave some comments on here, on my facebook/twitter, I enjoy reading them all even though I can’t always respond to each one!

Love you all!