Bundy Set For Richter-Scale Shock?

The Brisbane Strikers could be set to unleash the nastiest of surprises on Bundaberg Spirit with the news that Jonti Richter has been re-signed to the club and is available to make his comeback from a rare thigh injury in Sunday afternoon’s Round 19 clash in Bundaberg.

Richter, the former A-League midfielder who made just four full appearances for the Strikers in last year’s championship-winning campaign before tearing a tendon at the top of a quadricep muscle, has completed a long and painstaking rehabilitation after having surgery for the injury.  He has been back at training for most of the past two months with the team and was re-registered with Football Queensland today.

Brisbane Strikers coach David Large said today that Richter, who coincidentally played his last full match for the Strikers against Bundaberg Spirit in Bundaberg and scored a memorable, net-busting goal in that game, would be considered for selection this weekend.

“I first began training with the team about six or seven weeks ago, just doing a bit of passing and that sort of thing, but in the last three weeks I’ve been back in proper training.  I’m feeling pretty good, although a little bit sore, but you’re always going to get that when you start training again”, Richter said today.

“It’s just about trying to get my confidence back now and not worrying about twinges and wondering if I will injure myself again”.

Richter said that, for a while after he broke down in a home game against the North Queensland Razorbacks on 8 August 2009, he was forced to contemplate the end of his football career.  His surgeon, upon first being presented with the player’s injury, said he had never before seen a similar one.  He also told Richter that, after surgery, “you’ll either be fine and be able to play again, or this could be it for you”.

“I had to have a second operation just to clean things out again, but the surgeon now says the repair of the tendon seems perfect, so it’s just about regaining confidence and regaining fitness now, because regaining fitness will prevent further injury”, said Richter.

There can be little argument that Richter is due for a change of luck in his football. His four full appearances for the Strikers last year came after another lengthy spell on the sidelines thanks to a long-term foot injury.

“I’ve had a rough trot and have had only four games in two-and-a-half years”, said Richter who, given these trials and tribulations, was understandably reluctant to think too far ahead about what he might still want to achieve in the game.  While he admits he still wants to play at the highest level possible for him, “the first step is just to get back on the field and see how my body and form is”.

Richter also said he feels he owes the Strikers an extended spell of his playing services after the club had shown faith and patience with him during his injury rehabilitations.

“Growing up it was always a dream of mine to play for the Brisbane Strikers, although that was obviously when they were in the NSL”, he said.  “But the club has been good to me, firstly Stuey (McLaren) and now Largie – it will just be good to get on the field and hopefully score a few goals”.

If Richter is able to regain something like the form he was in for the Strikers last year he could yet play an influential part in the club’s run to the end of the season and beyond, into the finals.  Supporters of the club will remember only too well the massive part he played in last year’s win over Olympic FC in a crucial fixture which set the club on a winning run that culminated with the Hyundai QSL title.

In further player recruitment news, the Strikers have also renewed acquaintances with another former club favourite.  Midfielder-come-striker Wayne Knipe, who last played for the club back in its NSL days and was part of the same Grand Final-winning squad as current skipper and assistant coach Chay Hews, has re-joined after parting company with Brisbane Premier League club Brisbane City.  Knipe was part of the Redlands City Devils side which defeated the Strikers in last year’s QSL Grand Final.