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I nearly fell off my chair the other night.
We all know Kara Lang’s story. Capped for the senior national team at just 15 years old, the sweetheart of Canadian soccer was forced to retire in January of 2011 at just 24 years of age due to the effects of ACL tears in both 2005 and 2009. Just eight short of 100 international caps, it all seemed too unjust.
However, Lang’s soccer story is not finished.
An article by Sean Fitz-Gerald of the National Post Friday evening revealed the now 26 year old is already working on a ‘comeback’- this would be her third- to the national team, which began when head coach John Herdman “planted the seed” of a return to her before the Olympics last year.
I was pleasantly shocked by this news.
The intense rehab she is undergoing is outlined in the National Post article, including totally altering the way in which Lang runs to alleviate pressure on the damaged ligaments and strengthen the muscles around her right knee. Fitz-Gerald reported that if all goes well, Herdman might have Lang back in Canadian camp as early as November.
If she is successful, what does this mean for the women’s national team, who have constantly struggled on the international stage to score and give support to Christine Sinclair?
In a best case scenario that sees Lang fit and getting regular match minutes, she could provide much needed width in the attack, and provide the team with a link from the midfield to forwards, something that was evidently lacking most recently in the team’s 3-0 loss against the United States.
In her short career, we witnessed Lang magnificently strike a dead ball into the back of the net on many occasions, including this free kick goal at the 2003 WWC (at 1:35). My favourite memory of Kara Lang was her penalty kick in the semifinal of the 2002 U-19 Women’s world cup, where she showed poise and a little sass when the Brazilian keeper attempted to intimidate her. (here, at 5:40)
However, many have commented that she was always more physical and athletic than technical. But therein lies the ‘what-ifs?’ of her short career. Lang retired at just 24 years of age, and even after her second comeback in 2009, she was not at her best. We may have never witnessed her full technical ability and potential.
What strikes me about this story is that it was indeed Herdman who gave Lang the idea for another comeback. Herdman has been the best national team coach the Canadian women’s program has ever seen, and his confidence in Lang is encouraging. He genuinely believes she has a shot to impact the team once again, and I am forced to believe him.
It’s all so poetic. With the World Cup just two short years away, in Canada no less, fans can’t help but be excited while envisioning a team once again with Kara Lang. Nobody will question her determination and work ethic. But is a comeback from two ACL tears actually possible? Few return from major knee injuries in top form. Will we ever see an in-form Kara Lang again? Only time will tell.
In the past few weeks, Canadian soccer has been littered with more news of Junior Hoilett’s unwillingness to commit to representing the Canadian men’s national team, continuing debates over Sydney Leroux’s ‘class’, and a ridiculous ban on harmless religious head coverings in Quebec.
Lang’s story is different. She represents all that is pure about sports- perseverance and courage in the face of continuous adversity. Whether the outcome of her comeback is more international caps or just a few call-ups to camp, her message for life and sports will not soon be forgotten.
Never give up.
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