Injuries are some of the most common threats that athletes encounter during their careers. While hopefully infrequent, they are often an unavoidable part of sport participation.
Whereas the physical effects of injuries are widely known, the psychological effects are less frequently discussed and supported.
Mental health affects rehabilitation outcomes and recovery and for players that suffer nagging injuries, psychological management is crucial.
Shadia Nankya who plies her trade with UCU Lady Cardinals underwent a tough phase of recovery and her return to full fitness has been tough.
The towering defender was forced to miss Uganda’s participation at the 2022 CECAFA Women’s Championship and 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after sustaining a knee injury at her club in May last year.
“At first, it felt minor and when they summoned the National Team to start preparations for CECAFA, I joined camp in Njeru and thought I would recover in time,” Nakya recollects.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t play a single game despite being named the Captain and I could only watch on as Crested Cranes lifted the trophy.”
The defender also missed out on the final squad that played at WAFCON and says this hurt so much.
“Uganda was returning to this stage for the first time after 22 years and every player wanted to be part of history. I had played in the Qualifiers and really wanted to feature at the final tournament because it is everyone’s dream. When I realized there was no chance for me to make it, I felt disappointed,” she stated.
Nankya reminisces that the recovery process was tough and she had to go through a lot.
“I’m delighted to get back on the field of play after a long time. I missed the game so much. I could not imagine that a day would pass without me playing football but I had to endure that psychological pain. It was very hard to convince myself but I had to accept the reality.”
“I went through the baby steps of walking, running and kicking the ball again and returning to the team. I thank FUFA for the treatment, the doctors for not giving up on me, my family and friends for always encouraging me.”
Shadia captained UCU Lady Cardinals on Saturday, 4th February 2023 in their 1-0 defeat to Kawempe Muslim in what was her first competitive game since May last year.
The defender believes she will get back to her best soon and help the team improve.
“Playing football after such a long time was really important for me. I hope to get back to my best soon and help the team in the second round of the League,” she stated.
UCU Lady Cardinals occupy 3rd place on the FUFA Women Super League table with 16 points from 10 games.