Resurrection Man – The fall and rise of Kaka

By Frank Tigani
Updated: 17 October, 2012

Reuters

In the next league game Kaka was rewarded for his efforts with 45 minutes against Deportivo. Days later he started against Ajax in the Champions League and he was simply magnificent. It was almost like watching the Kaka of old, full of dribbles and runs and creating opportunities for his teammates as well as for himself.

Still, he started the Clasico on the bench, but this was to be expected. However, his improving performances together with reports emanating from the Madrid camp that he was in fine shape was enough to convince Mano Menezes to include him in the Brazil squad for their friendly matches against Iraq and Japan.

Kaka admitted to being surprised by his recall to the national team after two years on the outer. And, well he would have been for despite his progress, it was still a lean basis for Menezes to call him up.
However, when Kaka joined up with the Brazil camp the team’s physiotherapists were impressed with his physical condition, one of them being reported by Marca saying: “He looks very strong. We have found him in very good shape and we hope that he will maintain it.”

The former World Player of the Year continued to train extra hours with the Selecao, completing three voluntary sessions not even two days after joining his compatriots, one in the gym on the Tuesday morning when Menezes allowed his players some free time.

Come Thursday’s encounter with Iraq, all the extra work seemed to pay off. After teeing up Oscar with a simple tap in, Kaka got himself on the score sheet with a brilliant solo effort. Admittedly, Iraq did not present the strongest of opponents. However, fresh from beating France in Paris, Japan did pose a greater challenge for Kaka but the result was the same. Another inspired showing and a goal to cap it off. And, he could have had two had it not been for the woodwork.

Whether Kaka will make the grade for the world cup in two years’ time is too early to tell. However, his experience and professionalism may go a long way in a side bursting with talented starlets but perhaps lacking in other departments.

His goal-scoring return for Brazil has completed his return to form and fitness. Kaka is back. But, unlike earlier 12 years earlier, there has been little divine inspiration about this comeback. It has been down to plain hard work.
“I never lost the hope of coming back and experiencing what I am now. This is a personal resurgence that I have achieved gradually through a lot of hard work. I’m trying to make the most of every match, enjoy it and do a job for the team. I know that I have to take every opportunity I get to win back my place in the football world,” he said after his country’s 6-0 demolition of Iraq.

But, what is similar to how he returned to playing football after his back injury as teenager is that his latest comeback is just as inspiring. From being the 2007 Ballon D’Or winner to training with the Real Madrid reserves in order to impress the coach and get back into team, it has been akin to starting over at 30-years-old. This takes humility, determination and discipline – attributes Kaka has in abundance, as he has clearly showed.

Doubts remain as to what the future holds for him in Madrid. In a team full of stars, it will be hard for him to hold a place down in Mourinho’s starting eleven. He may even still leave in January for pastures anew. However, as he once said, “I learnt that it is faith that decides whether something will happen or not,” so perhaps if he can just retain a little bit of this then the Santiago Bernabeu may just finally get to see the best of him, if only for a short while.

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