Undergoing a heart operation in September 2008, Guy Gnabouyou fought his way back into training in December and competition in January 2009. We look back at an extraordinary adventure.
Guy Gnabouyou’s world collapsed in on him during the summer of 2008 when a doctor anniounced to him that he had a heart defect. Just after his arrival in the pro group, this young player was confronted with his first great difficulty. «Just like atthe start of each year with the pros, there is a medical examination. It was the first time I had done one like that, remembers Guy. At the end of the examination the doctor told me that I had a small dilation, that it wasn’t serious, but that we would have to keep an eye on it».
Guy Gnabouyou carried on with training, but took an appointment for further tests. «I did some tests at La Timone. There, they found a large dialation of the aorta which could compromise my career».
In shock, he was completely lost and could only think of one thing: football. «I couldn’t believe it, I didn’t know what to think, nor what to do, I was dreading the moment when someone would say whether I could or couldn’t play football again». More than anything, his desire to play football, to live his dream, everything for which he had worked so hard for over the years, became an obsession for him and he was scared thinking about the fact that his career could be over. «The dominating feeling was fear, fear of not becoming a pro, of stopping my career and stopping my passion».
Happily enough, the doctors were able to reassure him. «It took me about five days to get over the shock and take everything in, just the time it took for the results to come in. It was at that point that they told me I would be able to play again after the operation».
For him, the toughest part was over. The operation was just secondary, the fact that he knew he would be able to play again afterwards gave him all the confidence he needed. Those close to him have, obviously, been there from the start. «My family, my friends, my agents, everyone was reassuring me. Once I learned that I could play football again, everything was easier. I wasn’t too scared about the operation. My entourage must have been scared but they tried not to show it».
Reassured, Guy was even more so after finding information on other players who had gone through the same situation and had been able to play again. The Nigerian player Kanu immediately springs to mind. «I found out that there hadn’t been any problems and that they had been able to carry on with their careers normally».
On the 4th of September, Guy Gnabouyou was operated on by Professor Collard. «I felt a bit of stress as we entered the operating theatre» he recalls. The operation went well and he was able to leave the hospital quite quickly. The first batlle was over. However, the one which he faced afterwards was more difficult. The young Marseille player started a long and difficult period of physio work. «We did a great deal of work with Serge Conesa based on endurance and building up the muscles of my lower body as I was unable to work on my upper body. It was very difficult for me mentally as I was coming into training just to run, it was very hard. I really wanted to play but they told me not to try and advance too quickly, and to do my physio work well so as to come back stronger». No matter what he faces, Guy only has one idea in mind.
At the end of the month of December, he starts to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Four months after his operation, he joined back in with group training. Thinking that he would have to wait a while before approaching the first team, he was surprised to learn that the OM manager had selected him for the first match of 2009, against Besançon. «I was so happy to get back out onto the pitch and rediscover the atmosphere. I cannot thank Erik Gerets enough, it really made me happy».
On the bench at the start of the match, Guy Gnabouyou came on with 10 minutes to go in normal time. «I wasn’t scared at all, I just tried to have fun. On top of that, when I came on we were 1-0 down, so all that I could think of was scoring or playing in an assist».
The second battle was won. The future now depends on him.
Even if he has to be monitored frequently, Guy Gnabouyou has a very mature view of this period which has forever marked the start of his career. «It has made me strong mentally because this ordeal (operation, physiotherapy, comeback) will allow me to be more objective about any other injuries».
