SOCCEROOS superstar Harry Kewell was diagnosed in 2002 with a rare blood disorder that could have killed him.The mystery ailment, long rumoured but confirmed for the first time by The Sunday Telegraph, has also been revealed as one of the main factors in Kewell avoiding minor Socceroos games for much of his career.
The Socceroos' team doctor who helped Kewell manage the condition - auto-immune hepatitis - praised the courage of the forward, who had to be held back for fear he would push himself too hard during the early stages of treatment.
"He's an exceptional guy. He would die for his country," Socceroos team doctor Siri Kannangara said.
Dr Kannangara has confirmed for the first time that Kewell was diagnosed with the potentially fatal condition after a routine check-up in 2002. Untreated,
it could have killed him in five to eight years.Autoimmune hepatitis is a non-infectious, but potentially debilitating, condition that occurs when the body's immune system attacks liver cells.
The degree of liver inflammation can range from mild to deadly, and cirrhosis of the liver can result. The condition can be treated, but there is no cure.
Only a stroke of luck through a routine check-up revealed the condition. Kewell's trim figure is the consequence of a strict regimen he has maintained to defy expert medical opinion.
"He would not have had long to live - five years, maybe 10 at the most. He would have been in dire straits and he wouldn't be here," Dr Kannangara said.
"He couldn't have continued playing, and his football career would have been finished years ago. He couldn't have gone on like that and played the way he has. He wouldn't have even been running."But, if treated, and once you bring it under control, it's not life-threatening and you live a near-normal life. Obviously, you need to take medication - it's like a diabetic on insulin for life."
Kewell confirmed the diagnosis to The Sunday Telegraph, but was reluctant to talk about it as the Socceroos prepare for their first game against Germany at 4.30 tomorrow morning, Sydney time.
"Once you make yourself available and you cross the white line there are no excuses," Kewell said. "Whether you're injured, sick or whatever is completely irrelevant, and that's the way it should be.
"You're expected to be at your best once you're out there. If you don't feel that you're up for it then you shouldn't be there, pure and simple."Dr Kannangara paid tribute to Kewell. "A lesser person wouldn't be able to fight this; they would have curled up and died," he said.
"Most other people would give up, but he never has."He's a gutsy little bugger, a fighter, and he'll fight to the end."
Kewell, widely regarded as Australia's greatest-ever player, was roundly criticised for putting his club career before Socceroo duties early last decade.
He did not play for Australia at all in 2002, the year of his diagnosis, and only twice in 2003. Both 2003 matches were played in England, where he was playing for Leeds United.
Dr Kannangara revealed that those absences had more to do with Kewell's health than any lack of loyalty.
"I've known Harry for a long time, and I'll vouch for the fact that he would do anything for his country," he said.
"I told Soccer Australia (now FFA) that he had a medical problem - so don't get Harry here for simple games, keep him for big games. The impression people got was that he was too big for his boots.
"He was misunderstood by the public, and Soccer Australia as well, and matters need to be put right."
Former Socceroos fitness guru Anthony Crea said he was not surprised Kewell had never revealed the seriousness of the condition because Kewell would not "fish for sympathy".
Crea, who was Australia's strength and conditioning coach in 2006, said he did not hear a peep while he was putting Kewell through his paces.
"Very few people knew. He never spoke about it and kept it to himself," Crea said. "He could have used any number of excuses, but he has always bounced back from criticism and risen above it.
"It comes down to mental strength, and a lot of guys would have packed it in. His preparation is meticulous, and what he has to do to get on the pitch is thorough."But he still goes to the nth degree to make sure he's ready.
"I have a quiet confidence in the people looking after him and the way he is. He'll come good and keep bouncing back and proving people wrong."
Kewell's recent travails have given him a different outlook on his football.
"I must admit that I have never loved the game more, and I want to play for as long as possible at the top level," he said.
"But I don't want to be one of those players that keeps playing just to collect their wages.
"When I know I'm not able to do my best I'll hang up the boots. I think everyone knows when their time is up; I just hope for me it's not for many years."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sunday-telegraph/harry-kewell-battled-deadly-blood-disease/story-e6frewt0-1225878930321 
[ 本文被影在2010-06-14 05:38重新編輯 ]
