Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golder’s News And Sport
Former Manchester United centre-back Daley Blind has returned to the pitch yesterday evening playing for Ajax Amsterdam in the Dutch Cup quarter finals after being diagnosed with serious heart issues in December.
It had been revealed on 21st December 2019 that the Dutch footballer, who currently plays for Ajax, was diagnosed with Myocarditis and he was fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The device sends electrical pulses to regulate an abnormal heart rhythm.
He has now successfully passed rigorous testing from the medical staff at Ajax and returned to the pitch last night at the 77th minute in the KNVB Cup (the national championship of the Netherlands) quarter finals, with Ajax thrashing SBV Vitesse (Vitesse Arnheim) 3-0.
Ajax dominated their opponents with 61 percent possession.
Blind said: “I’m really happy to be back on the pitch.
“It was heavy period because you don’t know what is coming or which news you will get but luckily it didn’t take long for everything to look good. I have been positive most of the time and was busy with my return.”
He added: “I had a little bit of tension beforehand because you don’t know how it will go. The doctor really needed to hold me back and step on the brakes because I wanted to get back as soon as possible. I wasn’t scared at all, I wanted to get back on the pitch as fast as possible.”
He said: “I have missed [playing football] a lot. I missed my teammates and I missed being on the pitch. I need to build up now, I am not fully fit to play 90 minutes.”
Blind also posted this picture on Instagram, which he captioned: “There is no better feeling! Big Thanks to my wife, family, friends, everyone of the medical team, and everyone who supported and believed in me. Thank you!”
Ajax next go up against RKC Waalwijk on 16th February.
Blind, 29, played for Manchester United between 2014 and 2018.
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