Posted in News on Feb 07, 2006.
Serge had been out of action since late September after picking up an injury in a league game against Jomo Cosmos and has gone through a speedy recovery, which has been faster than the doctors had anticipated.
Serge was laid low after coming out the worse off from a tackle with Jomo Cosmos hard man Andrew Rabutla in a league game at the Rand Stadium and since undergoing surgery there was much speculation about when Serge would be back in action, with the feeling amongst the medical staff that he would sit out the rest of the season. Serge’s determination and extra hours put into training in the gym has helped him get into shape, going through his first training session with out any hindrances has been the first step to a full recovery.
“Initially we expected him to maybe start playing some time in may, he fought his back and going through the training session on Tuesday he has shown us that Serge is 95% back to where he needs to get to,” were the comments of Chiefs team doctor Phil Maepa.
Djiehoua has said that watching the Ivory Coast national team competing and doing well at the Africa Cup of Nations currently on the go in Egypt has spurred him on to work extra hard at get back into action. Serge said; “Watching players like my former team mates at youth level Arouna Kone, Arouna Dindane and Mark Zoro made me realize that I should have been there with them and I am determined to start playing regularly with Chiefs and clawing my way into the Ivory Coast team.”
Coach Ernst Middendorp is hopeful that Serge will be back in action when Chiefs play Sundowns away on the 22nd February in Pretoria although he is unlikely to play when the two teams clash for the first time this season on the 15th February at FNB Stadium. Serge is likely to make some sort of a come back when Chiefs host Dynamos in Johannesburg on the 18th February, as he could well start that game from the bench.
