Boland moves past injury embarrassment but unsure on new deal

Mirko Boland says being unable to contribute to Adelaide United’s season left him feeling embarrassed but the midfielder is determined to make up for lost time.

Germany international Boland missed 14 rounds of action for Gertjan Verbeek’s side after undergoing surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee last November but the former Eintracht Braunschweig veteran returned in Adelaide’s 1-0 win against Melbourne Victory in Round 15.

Feature image thanks to Ken Carter

The 32-year-old, who is out of contract in the off-season, insists he approaching full fitness again and wants to help fire Adelaide toward finals football.

“At the start of the season I was feeling pretty good, then I got the injury,” he said.

“There was a time I felt really a little bit embarrassed because I am here to play football.

“I want to help the team. But that is also part of football. [It] makes you also much stronger so now I am back I am looking forward.

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“The team is also doing well right now and I want to help the team for the rest of the season.

“There is a really good atmosphere again and we have to keep it going. We know also that we have to invest 100% in every game and maybe something more.”

Boland’s recovery takes another step tonight when an Adelaide United XI team faces the Football SA All-Stars in a bushfire relief fundraising match at Marden Sports Complex.

Recent bushfires in South Australia devastated parts of Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills, with vegetation completely destroyed and tens of thousands of livestock perishing.

Verbeek will coach the Adelaide XI, while Michael Marrone, Stefan Mauk, Ryan Kitto, Kristian Opseth, Lachlan Brook and Yongbin Chen will also be involved.

“Australia is such a beautiful country and with all the wildlife here, the nature it’s really, really important,” he said.

“It’s incredible and makes me really sad and if you think of that and how many people lost their homes and all the wildlife.

“When I heard one third of the population of koalas have died and I’ve been once also to Kangaroo Island, and to see the pictures now how it looks like right now there that makes me really sad.”

Boland added that there had been no movement on news of a new deal with Adelaide. He signed with the Reds on a two-year deal in July 2018.

“I am just happy to be back. We will see what is coming up in the future,” he said.

“What is for sure – I love Adelaide, I love the city, I love the guys here. It’s a good club.

“For sure, to be honest, I also miss my family.”

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