Jason Raad suffered more than one serious injury as an awful crunching challenge ruled the midfielder out for a projected six to nine months. This article goes through his physical and mental pain as the return to football is slowly taking shape.
“Mentally, it’s been one of the toughest times of my life.”
The Concord Rangers midfielder started for the Beach Boys against Dorking Wanderers in
the National League South clash, but was stretched off in the 72nd minute after a midfielder jumped in with a scissor-like motion. Twisting Raad’s right leg, the South African broke his right fibula bone as well as dislocating the talus joint of the foot.
“When it first happened, I knew it was bad because I hadn’t experienced pain like that in my leg before.
“I still didn’t think I had broken anything. My first thought was how long would I be out of football for and how this would affect my career.”
The midfielder was initially shown a yellow, but after communicating with the linesman, a red card was distributed by the referee.
“He reached out to me on social media, the night it happened, to apologize but unfortunately sorry doesn’t change anything.
“I don’t think he planned to break my leg but when I watch the tackle over, he definitely wanted to hurt me.”
“It’s happened now and I’m just focusing on the recovery and comeback.”
An earlier incident during the game led to paramedics already situated at the Aspect Arena, treating Wesley Fogden for a head injury. As Raad laid on the pitch, a paramedic quickly assessed the injury before insisting he has to be taken to the hospital.
However, it was untold how long Raad would have to wait for an ambulance to arrive. Teammates Elliot Johnson and Jack Bridge brought it upon themselves to drive the injured attacker to the hospital, lying across the backseat with an ice pack.
Nearly 50 days since the reckless challenge, Raad believes his injury is heading in the right direction. Though, it hasn’t been an easy process.
“I’ve improved physically. My leg seems to be getting better, it’s healing well and I’m not in as much pain as I was at the beginning.
"I have had a cast on for the past five weeks so I can’t see how it’s looking.
“I haven’t been able to put any weight on it since the injury but during rest position, I’m no longer in pain which is good.”
Injuries, especially long-term, don’t just affect players physically. The long process can take a huge toll mentally, like it has for Raad.
“At the start of the injury you are still fresh off of playing football, so you don’t really have that missing and craze for football. Though, after a week or two you really start to miss playing football; being around your mates and playing competitive games.
“It’s hard as well with a long-term injury because you know you won’t be able to do what you love for a long time.”
“In the beginning it’s easier, you receive a lot of attention and messages. Time also goes a lot quicker as you have many doctors’ appointments and a surgery.
“The following weeks are really tough. It is very difficult to stay motivated every day, it feels the same as it’s repetitive and time seems to take so long.”
The injury occurred weeks after Boris Johnson put counties into tiers due to COVID-19. This meant households were unable to mix indoors within certain areas of the country to help reduce the risk of spreading the infectious disease.
“The fact that you can’t have people over to visit doesn’t help as you are on your own. You’re forced to think about the negatives of the situation.
“This type of injury has been really tough mentally because it’s not like other injuries where you are still able to do other things. I was unable to move around, forced to rest and spend most my day laying down or sitting, it’s something I have never had to do.
“I don’t enjoy it, it’s very frustrating and depressing for me.”
To get through all the days that dragged, he had to find ways to take his mind off the injury. The attacker had to focus on other aspects of life otherwise, as Raad stated, he would’ve been in a really bad place if he didn’t.
“It’s given me time to complete my personal training course I have been doing and I have started with my coaching courses, so I’ve been busy learning.
“I have also tried to keep fit by doing some upper body workouts, but you don’t realise how much your legs actually do more than just what we think.”
“The next step is for my cast to come off next week where I’ll be put into a boot for another 6-weeks but I am really poking forward to it as I will be able to put some weight on my foot and start light rehab which I’m very keen to get started.
Raad was told that his injury will take six to nine months but the South African has different ideas.
“I’ve set a goal to come back before that time and try and not let the Dorking Wanderers game be the last game of my season.”
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