Klasnic Extends His Contact And Prepares To Return

First Team
Friday, 29.06.2007 / 09:21

On Thursday afternoon, Ivan Klasnic signed a one year extension to his current, expiring contract. The striker has, with that, accepted the offer made to him by Werder Bremen directly after he announced the extremity of his kidney problem.

On Thursday afternoon, Ivan Klasnic signed a one year extension to his current, expiring contract. The striker has, with that, accepted the offer made to him by Werder Bremen directly after he announced the extremity of his kidney problem. There was a great deal of media interest at Thursdays press conference to announce the signing of the new deal.

 

Ivan arrived with a broad smile to greet the gathered journalists: “I have been reading a lot that Werder haven’t bought any top class players – well here’s one! I’m just not at full health yet”, grinned the front man who was demonstratively optimistic about his future: “When I’m back to full health I am sure that I will play my part in insuring Bremen are right back at the top again.”

 

Noone is as yet sure exactly how long it will be before Ivan Klasnic can make his first appearance back in the Werder team again but the Croatian has high hopes: “My goal is to be back in full team training by the first day of the season but it’s possible that it could take until the fifth or even the tenth match day”, announced the striker who is setting himself quite a task. When the team take off on Monday to get their first trainings camp underway in Norderney, Klasnic will definitely not be joining them.

 

The Croatian international will have to go through his programme step by step: “I’ve been in training for a month and a half but that has nothing to do with what the rest of the team are up to. I’ve got to pay a lot of attention to my blood values and cannot yet exceed a particular pulse rate. The team from the clinic in Bremen are keeping a regular eye on things”, explained Klasnic, who will be wearing a kidney protector for some time.

 

The fact that he is back on the ball at all is testament to his great will to get back in the game, as his emotions have suffered a rollercoaster ride in recent months. The striker admitted on Thursday that his confidence has not always been at a high: “I knew long before that at some stage I would need a kidney transplant but I was very surprised that everything went so quickly.” To add to this setback there was also the failure of the first transplant – Ivan’s body rejected the initial kidney donated by his mother. “The time between the two operations was very difficult. The waiting. Even when I knew there was another donor ready I had to wait to allow my body to recover from the first operation.” During this time Ivan had great support from his family. “I thank my wife, my child and my whole family who were right behind me all the way.”

 

He was also inspired by the positive examples of other professional sports people who got back to the peek of their sport after a kidney transplant. “Of course you consider these things, these role models are important. The basketball player Alonso Mourning didn’t just make it back into the NBA but won the title and was named MVP (Most Valuable Player). I’m the first footballer attempting to make such a comeback.”

 

The player will also receive plenty of support from Werder Bremen on his way back. Klasnic remarked: “I know that the club will allow me the time I need to get back to health and full fitness.” General manager Klaus Allofs confirmed the modest but helpful roll of the club: “It would be dangerous to put him under pressure and plan for the season with him in mind. It is unimportant exactly when he returns, even if it takes until the end of the season. We’re looking forward to having him back. We will carefully wait the progression of things. Only when the risk factor is at absolute zero will he return to team training. Then we’ll take the next step. Ivan will come to this decision himself in collaboration with his doctors. There will always be some amount of risk but every professional player who goes on a pitch takes these risks.” Werder are not just willing to wait but also to support: “Of course Ivan will go through periods of doubt but we’ll be there to help him over the worst, even if that takes a kick in the backside”, joked Allofs.

 

Ivan has the images of his first introduction and his first touch of the ball right before his eyes. These are motivating images and he hopes the period of not knowing will soon have an end: “I feel better everyday. My body is returning to its old condition. I’ve already felt the effects of the training in my shoulders but my lower abdomen is still swollen. I reckon I will be able to give my all soon though.” Klasnic added: “I have to watch what I eat because the meds can cause me to put on weight. Everyone keeps telling me to eat lots of vegetables but nothing seems to taste well no matter what I eat.”

 

Johnnie Muldoon

 

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