Phoenix captain shares alarming insights on illness with ‘no end in sight’

Wellington Phoenix skipper Alex Rufer has revealed that football was the furthest thing from his mind while battling an illness that could have sidelined him for an indefinite period.

Ultimately, Rufer missed six Isuzu UTE A-League matches due to glandular fever, but he made his return to the pitch with the Phoenix in their clash against Melbourne Victory last Friday night.

However, it could have been much worse for the club captain, who was warned that he might miss up to six months of football, with no set timeline for recovery.

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“It was extremely challenging,” Rufer reflected.

“For any athlete, watching your teammates compete while you’re unable to participate is incredibly tough. Personally, the hardest part was not knowing when it would end. There wasn’t a clear plan, and that was rather difficult to handle. However, now that I’ve come through the other side, I’m feeling great, and the team is looking strong as well.

“To be honest, I wasn’t focused on football for a while. Given the absence of a plan, my primary concern was simply getting healthy again. The doctors mentioned it could take anywhere from six weeks to six months, and hearing that was quite daunting.

“As I mentioned, my priority was to ensure my health was restored, and thankfully, I’m back to full health and ready to go.”

“I’ve suffered through a couple of significant injuries before, which are tough since they keep you out for an extended period — but at least you have something to work towards. You know approximately when you might return or how to approach your comeback. This situation felt different, with no specific return date or clear timeline for recovery.

“I’m just incredibly grateful to be back and feeling well.”

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In his return from illness, Rufer played 27 minutes off the bench during Wellington’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Victory in Round 19.

His comeback comes at a crucial moment for the Phoenix, as they prepare for the third and final New Zealand Derby against Auckland FC this Saturday afternoon at Go Media Stadium (kick-off 3pm AEDT).

Having lost their first two encounters with Auckland, the Phoenix will be eager to avoid conceding the ultimate derby bragging rights to the Black Knights in their inaugural season in the league.

Rufer expressed confidence in his ability to play up to an hour on Saturday as he continues to build his match fitness following his six-match absence.

“I believe I could manage around 60 minutes,” he said.

“That might be pushing it a bit, but you want to be involved in derbies, play in significant matches, and compete against the best teams — and Auckland certainly qualifies as one of them.

“I’m eager to contribute as much as I can and support the team in any way possible.”