Sounders Insider » zakuani

Zakuani: “In best shape of my career”

Don Ruiz — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 23:26:39 +0000

After the Sounders opened training this morning, we got a few minutes with midfielder Steve Zakuani.

Some highlights:

On how he feels: I feel I’m in the best shape I’ve been in in my career. I did a lot of work in the off-season. I was in touch with Dave Tenney – fitness coach – every two or three days. Even when I was in London and even when I went on my vacations, I kept myself in shape because I knew that I was working from a deficit last year. Dave knows his stuff, and now all indications are …

Zakuani: “I’m over the injury”

Don Ruiz — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:33:37 +0000

Sounders wing Steve Zakuani played 90 minutes Sunday in the reserve match at San Jose. After training to day, he said he considers his once-career-threatening leg fractures behind him and that all he needs is game fitness and sharpness, which he hopes to get in first-team games starting as early as Saturday against Vancouver.

Here’s some of what he had to say:

On going 90 minutes: It was hard. It was a hot day, and the San Jose team had a much more experienced team than we did. It was a lot of chasing the ball, which was a lot …

Loan of Zakuani still a possibility

Don Ruiz — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:58:47 +0000

After Steve Zakuani returned to MLS play on July 7 against Colorado, coach Sigi Schmid raised the possibility of loaning him to another team in order to get him the game-minutes needed to complete his comeback from his leg fractures.

Zakuani got a few minutes at the end of last night’s friendly against Chelsea FC. And now the Sounders MLS Reserve team is about to begin play again, and the first team is about to go into a month that will juggle MLS, the Open Cup final and the start of CONCACAF Champions League. But Schmid said today that the …

Zakuani swaps jerseys with Mullan, hopes for closure and getting on with their careers

Don Ruiz — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 06:37:44 +0000

Here’s some of what Steve Zakuani had to say tonight as he returned to MLS action for the first time since suffering a fractured right tibia and fibula April 22, 2011, on a reckless tackle by Colorado midfielder Brian Mullan. (And here is a great picture of the shirt-swap, and a few quotes from Mullan.)

On finally being back) “I am honestly overwhelmed. I tried to visualize what that moment would be like for almost a year.

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Zakuani says MLS return “coming really soon”

Don Ruiz — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 03:18:35 +0000

Here’s some of what Steve Zakuani had to say tonight after playing 45 minutes in the Sounders 2-1 Reserve League loss to Vancouver:

“It was OK,” he said. “Forty-five minutes felt like 90 minutes, but it was good.”

More on how he felt) I was just happy. Every completed pass felt great. Every time I was able to run and turn I felt good. I was just happy to be out there. I think I should have scored, but I will take that. A year ago I would have given anything to miss a shot. So I will take …

No. 11 returns to pitch in Sounders Reserves loss

Don Ruiz — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 00:38:43 +0000

Sounders FC midfielder Steve Zakuani took a major step on his long road to recovery tonight, playing the first 45 minutes of an MLS Reserve League match against Vancouver.

The Whitecaps won, 2-1, at Starfire Sports Complex.

However, the news of longer-lasting importance may have been Zakuani’s first game appearance since suffering a fractured right tibia and fibula April 22, 2011, during a game at Colorado.

Afterward he said he felt winded by that the leg injury was fine. He said he was frustrated to have missed a good goal chance but said he expects to be back in …

Zakuani hoping for MLS return by July or August

Don Ruiz — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 20:46:28 +0000

At Sounders training this morning, Steve Zakuani made a wonderful step-over move to find space down the right side. It looked so familiar that the thought instantly flashed through my mind: “That looks just like Steve Zakuani” — meaning, of course, the old pre-injuyry Steve Zakuani.

After training, I asked him if he sometimes feels like the old Steve Zakuani.

“Not yet — not to the level I was,” he said. “But that’s the sort of thing that builds confidence, when you do those kinds of things. I’m just happy to be back in training. It’s been obviously a …

Zakuani reveals nerves problem, hopeful for March

Don Ruiz — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:12:17 +0000

Here’s some of what Sounders midfielder Steve Zakuani had to say today about his rehab. The big issue seems to be a nerve problem called compartment syndrome. However, the leg breaks themselves seem to be coming along well, and he remains hopeful of being ready for the start of the 2012 season.

On his current recovery:
I just haven’t done contact. … In my conversations with Sigi we agreed to work on the more technical stuff: passing, shooting, getting that comfortable and trying to build up the rest. Right now my goals are trying to get back to

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