adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
AFTER being forced off the game of rugby for the last 20 months due to a horrific accident, Cheetahs and Sables scrumhalf Graham Kaulback feels he will come back “fitter, faster and stronger”.“I am getting better and with each passing training session I take and I feel that I will be fitter, faster and stronger,” said the half back who is aiming to bounce back for the national teams at the end of November.
The freak accident happened during a Cheetahs training session in a tackle situation with Sevens forward Fortunate Chipendu.
Kaulback was left with a broken knee as they prepared for the Zimbabwe International Sevens invitational tournament.
The following months were filled with pain and agony for the Old Georgians half-back who had to be operated on his knee, the doctors metal-plating the leg and re-enforcing it with 10 metal pins to give him a chance to walk again.
Initially, the doctors had told him he would be back in six months time but it has taken another 14 months for the athlete to be able to run, play touch rugby and last month he was involved in cameo appearances for OGs in friendly games.
“It was a tough time for me,” said Kaulback.
It’s been a year and eight months now since I got injured. I spent a month in bed and I spent the next five months in crutches before I got an offer to coach Hellenic first teams.
“Sometimes the medication I received, both pain killers and sleeping tablets, would not work and the pain was just too much I would spend the whole night in agony not being able to do anything.
“It took me a lot of mental toughness but with my faith pinned in God, His blessings got me through because He had plans for me.
“I would also like to urge all those with injuries to acknowledge God because He is the only one who can make our lives get back on track again,” he said.
But since abandoning the crutches last year in August, the scrum-half has been involved with Hellenic School where he was the first team coach of the XVs and the shorter version of the game and went on to attain an International Rugby Board Level One coaching certificate.
“I was also involved with the Mashonaland Provincial Under-18 team and I was fortunate enough to be included in the Sevens training schedules at Innovate Fitness Centre so that I could get back into the game but I had to get the plate and 10 screws off my knee five months ago.
“While at Hellenic I got myself a (IRB) Level One rugby coaching certificate and I am currently working on my Level II that is almost complete, it was refreshing to work and see the young talent develop.
“For me working at this school was a good challenge, it’s a fairly a new school, their XVs is picking up and their Sevens is good and I would like to thank Rick Kershaw for giving me the opportunity to work with the young players as I developed into a coach as well.
“It is there that I found a new passion in coaching,” said Kaulback.
However, Kaulback — who made his debut for the Sables in December of 2012 in Dubai — understands there have been a lot of changes that include stiffened competition for the both the Cheetahs and Sables jersey as a number of good players have come through.
He acknowledges he is not yet fully fit and it will take him a lot to shrug off the challenge of versatile Harare Sports Club back-liner Stephan Hunduza, dynamic club mate Hilton Mudariki and Gweru Sports Club utility back Kilvan Magunje.
“I am about 85 percent fit now and every time I run or practice I feel I am getting better and that makes me feel like a whole new person because my confidence is also on an upward trend.
“It has taken me a lot to get back to where I am now and there are a lot of changes in the game with the coming up of players like Stephan, Hilton, Kilvan and Boyd Rouse.
“Stavo (Hunduza) is playing well and was named in the Hong Kong (World Sevens tier two) Dream Team. I feel like a new person, I have been working hard, in the gym, running hard and also playing some touch rugby at Old Georgians.”
Online Reporter