More than just recovery for Forbes
ttproleague.comSan Juan Jabloteh forward Jerrol Forbes has many reasons to return fully recovered after missing the 2009 Pro League season due to a knee injury.
In an interview this week, the 25 year-old sturdy built forward explained, “it’s more than just recovery.”
Forbes is anxious to return to action for Jabloteh and the Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team, but his real goal is to fulfill the wish of his deceased brother Jason who passed away in January at the age of 27.
“Jason wanted me to excel and play abroad,” said the Jabloteh forward. “He wanted me to reach the pinnacle of my career. So it’s a dream I want to fulfill for him.”
Forbes picked up the right knee injury early last year against home side Inter Moengotapoe of Surinam in the second round of the 2009 CFU club championship. Jabloteh won that match 3:1 and advanced with a 5:2 aggregate. The San Juan based club went on to finish third place following a 2-1 win over Tempéte.
After medical examinations it was revealed that Forbes had bruised PFL(patella femoral ligament) along with cartilage and meniscus damage and had to have surgery.
Since then Forbes has been undergoing rehabilitation, even training with Antiguan club Pahram at the end of last year [under the guidance of Terry Fenwick] to drop weight he gained while off the pitch.
And while Forbes sat out the 2009 season, and player/coach Earl Jean thrown into the coaching seat after the club failed to sustain Terry Fenwick’s salary, Jabloteh went on to advance into the CONCACAF Champions’ League group stage along with fellow Pro League club W Connection.
However the San Juan based club failed to register a win against Mexican club Deportivo Toluca, American club DC United and Honduran club CD Marathon finishing at the bottom of their Group.
Jabloteh then failed to defend three titles(League Championship, Toyota Classic and Big Six) domestically forcing the club to renegotiate with the Englishman Fenwick.
Fenwick has been back on the job since December and Forbes is eager to get into full training.
Since the club parted ways with Antiguan forward Peter Byers in mid 2008, Jabloteh struggled to find a competent striker. Forbes then joined the club from United Petrotrin after Byers’ exit. He proved just right helping the club defend the League Championship and a full recovery could be Jabloteh’s key to success this season.
Jabloteh physiotherapist Oswin “Ozzy” Birchwood is monitoring Forbes’ aggressive resistance therapy, and predicts another two weeks before the player returns to full training.
“Terry (Fenwick) and Ozzy together with (performing surgeon) Dr Anil Goopeesingh have taken personal responsibility in making sure I have a speedy recovery,” said Forbes.
“It was hard for me last year,” he added. “Especially watching Jabloteh play in the (CONCACAF) Champions’ League and not being able to make a huge impact.
"Hopefully I'm fully recovered now to return to the TT Pro League and to also play with Jabloteh in the CFU Club Championship and then onto the CONCACAF Champions’ League.”
Forbes is confident of an early return to scoring form once his knee responds well to the rehabilitation.
"Once my knee is receptive and I'm back to full fitness I would look to get back on the (T&T) national team and venture my career abroad. It wouldn’t take me long to get back into the striker I was. Working with Terry has always helped me in pushing myself further,” he concluded.
