Injuries can either make or break an athlete, much more so for the dreaded anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Thankfully, recovery is indeed possible, to the point that the athletes will perform to the best of their abilities upon their return to the court or the pitch.
For the De La Salle University Women’s Football Team, the one player who looked as if the ACL curse did not harm her capabilities one bit was Shannon Arthur.
Arthur, who missed the Lady Archers’ Season 79 championship run after she tore her ACL for the second time, made a successful return to the pitch last February 10, 2018 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, as she contributed two stunning goals in La Salle’s victory over the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons
“I was just excited you know. I get so much positive comments from my teammates. We all really believe in each other and they have really been helping me on the way to getting back this season,” said Arthur.
“Of course, I was nervous but I think the fact that I had my team there supporting me, even the fans, everybody there; it made me feel confident in myself for my first game.”
The Colegio de San Agustin-Makati alumna last played for the Green and White last Season 78, where she collaborated with Kyla Inquig upfront as one of the Lady Archers’ strikers. Last February 10, though, Arthur played as a defender.
“I am not going to lie. At first I really, really, tough time because it is hard going from being a striker to being a stopper.
“I did not know the movement but coach Hans-Peter Smit told me that if you get the game, you‘d get any position. I just worked hard to try to understand and I think I really like being in this position,” explained the third-year student-athlete.
It was Arthur’s first UAAP game in two years and the AB Literature student knew that she needed to adapt to her new surroundings and position as quickly as possible.
“I think I need to learn when to commit (to a tackle) and when not to. I also need to be a little bit more patient and then not as nervous as I was this game. But you know we still have three more games for this round then second round pa so I think I could do it,” added the returnee.
Nevertheless, to score twice in your return from injury is an achievement in itself. The fact Arthur did so as a defender made the achievement more incredible.
She narrated, “All my coaches always say to take whatever opportunities I can from my scoring area because it’s a little farther than most people. If no one approaches me from that area, (the coaches) told me to kick it, aim and focus.
“I just take every opportunity I can.”
It has been 12 years since La Salle’s last successful title defense. It is already hard to win the crown, and harder to successfully defend it. Nevertheless, Arthur is ready for the challenge.
“The fact that I was not even in the lineup last year, I really want to bag a championship for my team. I want to defend the crown. I just want to be a part of that effort.”
