Grabbing Recovery by the Horns: The Injury
This is the debut article of a new series highlighting the rehab process of RGVFC striker Aldo Quintanilla.
Last preseason, Aldo Quintanilla played a part in an open tryout for Rio Grande Valley FC. The striker was signed to the Houston Dynamo affiliate and went on to have a solid season up top. In 22 appearances, he scored five goals, had four assists, and tallied 35 key passes. In addition to a breakout USL season, he scored a brace when called up by the first team for a US Open Cup fixture vs. North Texas Rayados.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElF3J2yyPCM
Unfortunately, this preseason was not as kind to the 23-year-old. “It was a day after arriving from Houston in the preseason,” Aldo recalled. “We were in training doing a scrimmage and when attempting a bicycle kick, my knee got stuck and when I turned I felt my knee pop.”
“I could stand and walk, but I felt something was not right with my knee.”
After such a positive first season with the club, I asked Aldo how it felt to hear the diagnosis on his knee: a torn ACL. He answered, “Obviously, I felt sad for not being able to play and help the team, but there is not so much time to be thinking a lot as the rehabilitation begins, from day one. From that moment, you start thinking about getting back stronger, being a better player, and a better person.”
Describing Aldo as one of the most important players of last season, Jesus “Chuy” Enriquez said he is still really important to RGVFC. “We’re just waiting for his recovery and hopefully we’ll get lucky and have him for a couple of games,” Chuy added. “That’s one of our motivations to make the playoffs to make the season longer and potentially have him see some minutes his season, because nobody deserves an injury like that. I really hope he recovers quicker than expected.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlQ8XtgAjZo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
This is the first major injury of Aldo’s career and we will cover the entire process back to his return to the pitch.
