Masuk Mia Jony had quite an unusual time in the last one year as he played no competitive game in that period due to injury before being confined at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Bashundhara Kings midfielder is delighted to return to training alongside his teammates last week ahead of the rescheduled AFC Cup fixtures in Maldives next month.
“I felt like I shall be fit to play after a week of practice,” said a confident Jony before heading to practice at the club ground in Bashundhara Wednesday.
The Kings are training with almost full local squad, comprising 23 players, except midfielder Rabiul Hasan.
Argentine striker Hernan Barcos and new Brazilian signings, winger Robinho and midfielder Fernandez are scheduled to join the team Monday, informed Bayazid Alam Zubair Nipu, the club’s head of strategy and planning.
A regular choice of national team head coach Jamie Day in central or attacking midfield, Jony often holds defensive role in Oscar Bruzon’s midfield plan at the club.
He broke his knee before Bangladesh’s World Cup and Asian Cup joint qualifier against Afghanistan in September last year and underwent anterior cruciate ligament surgery within a few days.
Jony missed four joint qualifying fixtures and Bangabandhu Gold Cup 2020.
He was also ruled out of the Kings squad as they won their maiden Federation Cup title, and only played five premier league matches before the Covid-19 postponement.
When the pandemic suspended all sports in mid-March, he reunited with family members in Sreemangal upazila of Maulvibazar.
He alone went up to tiny hills and tea garden for running, jogging and cycling in order to maintain fitness.
“I enjoyed those days, spent good time with sister, brother and parents at home, physical exercises at the yard, rooftop and cycling, running and jogging at nearby tea garden. I tried my best to make sure I’ll be fit enough when football returns,” said the 22-year old.
Jony was one of the first five players who joined the club when it started procedures for the AFC Cup camp by following safety rules and health guidelines.
He later came across Chittagong Abahani Limited defensive midfielder Manik Hossain in the same tent.
Manik was called up for the national team when Jony was absent.
Bashundhara also loaned in Manik for the AFC Cup as their two other defensive midfielders Jony and Atiqur Rahman were uncertain.
Atiqur also returned to training after a longer gap than Jony but the former is yet to make his debut for the new club due to injury setbacks.
Jony is getting ready for a new challenges ahead, starting with the AFC Cup.
“It was the first major injury of my life. There was no game, no training for nearly a year. I may not be the same I was before on the pitch but want to restart with new mindset. New challenge is to earn my place in the team and perform better than before,” hoped Jony.
