Justin Dunk
CFL.ca

Let’s take a ride back in time to Sunday Oct. 17, 2010 at a packed Mosaic stadium – the Saskatchewan Roughriders suffered a 34-26 loss to their West Division foes the Calgary Stampeders. But the day was especially painful as Rider fans witnessed their talented kicker suffer a gruesome injury.

Luca Congi was set to attempt a 43-yard field goal in the second quarter of the contest when Dwight Anderson blocked the kick and landed on the kicker’s right knee tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

“I knew it was serious. When it first happened I felt my leg going two different directions and then I heard a pop,” said Congi. “I knew right away that my season was done.”

The five-year CFL veteran had never suffered a major injury in his athletic career.

“You go through a lot of emotions,” explained Congi. “I went from playing in every game to sitting at home watching the games on TV.”

“Your upset, your pissed and then you get these emotions of optimism; you want to get back and get going again and looking forward to next year.”

Congi began the process on November 29, 2010 when Dr. Paul Marks performed the surgery to repair his torn ACL.

“After surgery your knee doesn’t really feel like a knee, your leg doesn’t really feel like a leg,” said Congi. “It takes a little bit [of time] to get it back going.”

Before the 2010 season Congi had been training with Mike Galasso, an up-and-coming trainer in the pro kicker’s hometown of Kitchener-Waterloo. Galasso contacted Chris Munford – a former strength and conditioning coach with the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA and current athletic performance consultant for a number of NBA and NFL teams – wanting to increase his knowledge related to performance training.

Munford – who does some of his athletic performance work in Guelph – gave Galasso some input into Congi’s training program during the off-season leading into the 2010 CFL season. Congi felt that his kicking abilities were the strongest they had ever been at that point and he believes that was due in part to Munford’s input.

“When you meet with Chris you know he knows what he is talking about. He knows so much about the human body and performance training and rehabbing,” said Congi. “He knows particularly very well about the knee.”

“When [Congi] hurt his knee, Mike Galasso knew that I did a lot of ACL rehab stuff,” said Munford. “And he put him towards me.”

After meeting with Munford it was a no brainer for Congi to enlist the services of the knowledgeable athletic performance specialist to rehab his knee back to full strength.

Congi started his rehab process with Munford in the pool for four weeks before moving to land-based training. The pool lends itself to a rehabbing athlete because he can move around easier because he weighs less in the water. This helps the athlete perform more movement based exercises earlier than other rehab strategies.

“The mobility has increased, the strength has increased, his balance skills have improved. The idea is to try to build strength right now, keeping in mind the neurology. Training him in a way that is going to be useful to kick,” said Munford.

“I think he is on track, right where he should be. The issue with Luca is that he’s a kicker and there is so much torque on the leg, which is different than other athletes.”

A right-footed kicker, Congi believes it was better that he hurt his kicking leg as opposed to his left leg, which he uses to plant.

“Recovery from my plant leg would be tougher. All your force is generated from your plant leg. If I had to choose one or the other [to hurt] I would choose my kicking leg.”

The process has taught Congi to be patient as he looks to improve the strength in his surgically repaired knee each day.

“It’s really like building blocks, you start at the bottom, you start slow and work your way up. I am building my foundation to get my leg back to where I need it to be,” said Congi. “Chris has been great, a true professional. I feel very confident [about] who I am working with.”

With more than three months completed in the process to rehabilitate his knee Congi remains patient and committed to the process.

“I want to push it as hard as I can, within boundaries. You don’t want to push it too hard to the point where you set yourself back. You want to push it to get [the knee] stronger, but know and understand what your limits are,” said Congi.

“My goal is to be back for the start of the season. I am definitely not going to put myself in a situation where I play when I shouldn’t be playing. Unless I can perform [at] 100 per cent I don’t want to be performing.”

“We said [Congi] was going to be ready to go when [he] is ready to go. Obviously you’re trying to get him ready for the season,” said Munford. “But I refuse to rush him through the process. I won’t do it because it is not fair to him.”

Roughrider athletic therapist, Ivan Gutfriend checks in with Congi by phone on a regular basis. On March 1, Congi flew out to Saskatchewan to have his knee inspected by Rider team doctors.

“It just shows that they want to see where I’m at and they’re interested and they care,” said Congi.

For now, the Simon Fraser grad is focused only on what he can control. He does not feel any pressure from the organization to get back onto the playing field before he is ready.

“As soon as you start focusing on external factors, then my focus is being taken away from what’s important and that is getting my knee back to 100 per cent health,” said Congi.

“In pro sports you’re always on the time clock and I get that,” said Munford. “Yeah June 1st is the goal. If he doesn’t make June 1st it’s not the end of the world.”

Regardless of the status of his knee, Congi will join his teammates in Regina when training camps open in early June.

“As soon as camp starts I will be working out in Saskatchewan.”