It was July 6th, 2009 when Samson Malijani received a pass from a teammate, turned to take on a defender, and heard that ominous "pop" behind his left knee. On the ground writhing in pain, he knew that he had torn his ACL, even before the ensuing MRI confirmed it. Surgery was performed three weeks later.
Malijani's encore to his stellar junior year would have to wait. As a junior in 2008, Malijani earned Division I All America honors, was second in the nation in scoring with 18 goals and 5 assists, and led the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights to the NEC Championship and NCAA Tournament.
"Yeah, it was very disappointing, that's for sure," said the fifth year senior, who will graduate with his Master's degree in Sports Administration this coming December. "I was really looking forward to helping us win another NEC Championship in 2009."
Look forward one year later, and Malijani is playing in his final Premier Development League match of the summer, where he consistently logged 90 minutes per game. FDU Head Coach Seth Roland watched Malijani play at the start of July and was encouraged by what he saw. "Samson looked good," said Roland. "His fitness and mobility were where they should be, and he was fairly sharp dealing with the ball. He is not 100% there yet, but I'd say 80-90% back to where he had been. That's right on schedule for the upcoming college season."
It has not been an easy path back. Malijani's rehabilitation schedule has been grueling, but his renowned work ethic has carried him through. He was hoping to make his comeback in FDU's spring season last April, but the doctors wanted to be certain that his knee was strong enough for game competition. "I really wanted to get on the field and play again" said Malijani. "I felt I was ready physically, but the doctors wanted to make sure I would be ready for the college season. Right now my knee feels great."
Roland smiles when he remembers how much Malijani was dying to play in one of the final spring games. "I really felt for him-he wanted to play so badly. I would tell him to just be patient and to keep working hard, and that it would all be good for the fall."
With the start of pre-season training just a couple of weeks away, the FDU Knights are looking forward to having Malijani back on the field. Not just for his playing ability, but for his leadership qualities as well. "Samson's a winner, and he knows that it takes hard work to be successful," said Roland. "He sets a good example for his teammates to follow with his focus, determination, and work ethic."
The Knights are coming off a 2009 season where they advanced to their 11th NEC Playoff in the past 13 years. They are hoping to be in a position to win their sixth NEC Championship in 11 years.
Malijani emphasizes that, "Coming from Zambia four years ago, I knew I had the opportunity of a lifetime being able to attend Fairleigh Dickinson, earn a college degree, and play Division I soccer for a top college program. It's been a great experience, and it would be exciting to finish my collegiate career with another championship, and to compete again in the NCAA Tournament. That would be the icing on the cake."
Asked if his plans include playing at the professional level after college, Malijani states in his usual soft-spoken manner that, "It would be nice to pursue that dream, but right now I'm just focused on doing what I can to help FDU have a great 2010 season."
