adminRay Bande Senior Weekender Reporter
NATIONAL team and Mountaineers fast bowler, Tendai Chatara, is recovering and could be back in action earlier than the anticipated six months, The Weekender has learnt. The 24-year-old seamer had been categorically ruled out of action for up to six months after fracturing his left leg in Mutare on Good Friday after colliding with a goalkeeper while playing social soccer to keep fit during the local cricket off-season.
However, in an interview with this publication last Friday, Chatara, who narrated how he got injured in that social soccer match, said he could recover earlier than the envisaged six-month period.
“We were playing a social soccer match at Dangamvura Primary School on Good Friday when I got injured. I play as a striker for my Dangamvura Area 15 social soccer team and we were playing against Two Rooms.
“I received a through pass and when I was charging towards goal the goalkeeper also came off the line in attempt to be the first on the ball, but I toe-poked the ball home before the goalkeeper got his hands on the ball. Unfortunately, his head landed on the front part of my leg and I got injured in the process.
“When my teammates were celebrating the goal I told them that I had been injured and could not join them in celebrating the goal. I have always been played social soccer especially during the off-season break just to maintain fitness.
“I was informed that it will take up to six months for me to recover, but I have also been told that I could be fit in four months time if all goes well. I am no longer feeling the pain I used to when I got injured. It is painful that I will miss some cricket action owing to the injury, but I hope I will able to recover and get back on the cricket field,” he said.
Owing to this injury, Chatara will miss the Pakistan tour scheduled for next month as well as the India tour in June.
Depending on his recovery process, Chatara might also miss the tie against New Zealand at the end of July.
An X-ray confirmed that Chatara suffered an oblique fracture of the tibia and a transverse fracture of the fibula.
A specialist then recommended that there was no need for surgery.
Chatara will be in a full cast immobilisation for four weeks and a below-knee cast immobilisation for six weeks, depending on X-ray results after the initial four weeks.
A programme is being set up for him to continue working on his upper body and core while his leg heals.
Online Reporter