Sounders’ Steve Zakuani talks about hard road to recovery

Many fans believe soccer players fake their injuries, acting like someone shot them with a bazooka, then diving to the turf. Speaking with Seattle Sounders FC star Steve Zakuani, you realize the injuries are real, and have long-term implications.

It’s been nearly two months since Colorado Rapids midfielder Brian Mullen took down Zakuani with a vicious two-footed slide tackle.

Zakuani is finally ready to share his thoughts about that stunning, painful incident, and his long road to recovery.

“When I got hit, I remember being on my back, and my leg was in the air,” Zakuani vividly recalled. “It was bent out of shape. I knew right away. Some of the players rushed over and I said, ‘My leg’s broken. It’s broken.’ ”

Zakuani says he was at first in shock, then his foot and leg began to throb in pain as they carted him off for X-rays.

Consulting with doctors in Seattle, the decision was made to perform surgery on his compound leg fracture right away in Colorado.

Broken legs are not a simple injury.

“I couldn’t feel my foot for the first few weeks,” Zakuani said. “There was nerve damage and no sensation. Doctors would come and run their hands on my foot. I didn’t even know they were doing it.”

While on pain-killers in his hospital room, a television sports program showed Mullen’s hard tackle, and Zakuani had to turn his head away. He didn’t need to see it. The images are locked in his memory forever.

Now he’s preparing for the hard part – physical and mental rehabilitation.

The 23-year-old Congo native admits to going through emotional lows, especially watching his Sounders teammates play a game he’s loved since age five.

“To have it taken away from me, that’s the hardest thing to accept,” he told me. “The first game I went to against Kansas City at Qwest Field was tough. You just miss it. You miss it. Hearing the fans, and seeing the guys out there. To have it taken away is rough.”

Zakuani has an army of well-wishers. Sounders fans held up cards bearing his jersey number 11 during a match. He says he was moved to an emotion he had never felt before.

He also received advice from soccer legend David Beckham, who suffered a catastrophic leg injury of his own. Beckham told Zakuani not to set a timetable to return to soccer.

“He said there are going to be days when you feel like you’ll never get back,” Zakuani said.

Seahawks wide receiver Deon Butler, who suffered a similar compound leg fracture last season, called Zakuani as well.

“He said you’re going to deal with so many doubts and stuff,” Zakuani said. “They were right.”

Zakuani says each day brings a small victory. First he was in a wheelchair, then able to stand with two crutches, and now he’s down to one crutch. He’s using a special treadmill at Sounders headquarters and trying to gain pounds and strength lost during his hospital stay.

What about forgiveness? Is it in Steve Zakuani’s heart to accept Brian Mullen’s apology and move on? The two men have not spoken yet.

“My focus is on me and my family,” said Zakuani. “I think any hatred or bitterness towards Brian Mullen is too much of a burden to carry. From the very beginning I know bad tackles happen in soccer. It was a really bad tackle. I just happened to be on the wrong end of it.”

Mullen received a Major League Soccer record punishment; a 10-game suspension and a $5,000 fine. Mullen will be eligible to play June 26. His Colorado Rapids team comes to Qwest Field to play Sounders FC on July 16.

I’d be curious to know whether Mullen plays, and whether Zakuani is able to watch.

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