Durante slams broken leg tackle
By Ray Gatt
May 9, 2005
SHATTERED Newcastle Jets defender Andrew Durante says he is finding it hard to forgive the player involved in a tackle that has left him with a broken leg for the second time in 20 months.
One of the most talented and well-liked players in Australian football, Durante yesterday was trying to come to grips with the setback.
The 23-year-old's world came tumbling down during a World Club Championship qualifying loss to Central Coast Mariners at ExpressAdvocate Stadium on Saturday night when his right leg buckled under the impact of striker Nick Mrdja's tackle in the 13th minute of extra-time.
It is the second time Durante has broken the leg in a tackle. Marconi's Brad Maloney was suspended for four matches after being sent off for a challenge on Durante, who was playing for Parramatta Power at the time, in an NSL match in October, 2003.
The then 21-year-old only days earlier had been selected in an Olyroos train-on squad, but the injury sidelined him for six months and ended his dreams of representing his country.
Mrdja was not sent off by referee Matthew Breeze on Saturday, but was instead issued with a yellow card.
"He collected me with both feet," said Durante, who struggled to keep his emotions in check when The Australian spoke to him at Gosford Hospital.
The youngster said he was finding it hard not to have any malice towards Mrdja.
"What I find hard is that he did not even apologise to me while I was on the ground or later," Durante said. "In fact, apart from a couple of Mariners players, no one from the club has been in touch with me to see how I am."
Despite the severity of the injury, Durante believes he can recover even quicker than last time.
"I think I'll be out for about four months," he said. "The good thing is I won't need any metal plates or screws.
"I know what is ahead of me in terms of physical and mental anguish and that is helping me a little. The fact that the start of the A-League is still three months away is also some consolation because, with some luck, I won't miss too much football."
After 13 months without top-flight football, local fans finally got to see some real action, though its return also was marred by a serious injury to the Jets' stellar signing Ned Zelic, who has a grade two medial ligament injury in his knee and will be sidelined for up to six weeks.
It was an unfortunate homecoming for Zelic, who signed with the Jets last week after spending 13 years playing overseas.
Not only was the quality defender injured in the 63rd minute of the second half, but he was subjected to some disgusting barracking from Mariners fans.
Part-owner of Sydney FC, Hollywood actor Anthony LaPaglia, wore a huge smile after watching his side, already tagged the glamour outfit of the A-League, beat Queensland Roar 3-0 in the opening match of the Australian leg of the championship.
"That was thrilling to watch," LaPaglia said. "It has already proved a good investment. But it did not hit me until 15 minutes into the game that I was so heavily involved (as a part owner)."
