If you ask a youth player what is the last thing he want to see in a football match, he would probably say “raining”. But if you ask the same question to a professional football player, he surely would say “injury”. Yes, injury could be the biggest fear in football.

Although Dogs United is a local football club, injury did trouble the Team, especially when we have competitive matches. The Team can hardly field the best 11 and we can never get the deserved result. 10 out of 10 Dogs would tell you that the most painful experience is not being able to playing football due to injury. Not because of having date with tiger. Not because of having duty in office. Not any other reason.

Below are some serious injury cases of Dogs United:-

On 04 Jan 2004, Sing got an injury in the Joint U real grass pitch, against Wilson & Friends. An ambulance was called and he was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. It took around 5 hours before we can leave. And I remembered the administration staff of the pitch called me twice in a month time only to check the status of him.

On 18 Sep 2005, Hoi got injury in St. Dogs Park, against Jackie's Friends. An ambulance was called and he was taken to the hospital. It took around 6 hours before we can leave and, in between, Curtis and Winkins were having a very tasteful lunch in a street shelter next to the hospital. Hoi needed to use a walking stick after the injury and he came back to play after four weeks (on 16 Oct 2005).

On 01 May 2007, Curtis got an injury in Tung Chung, against Gary & Friends. He could hardly move and we have to call an ambulance and medical service. After the on-site treatment, Curtis needed to go to hospital for further treatment. He came back to play after three weeks (on 24 May 2007).

On 11 Jul 2007, I got an SMS from Captain Hoi saying that “剛剛踢波跌碎了左膊鎖骨, 醫生話要八星期康復, 開季唔駛預我…” against his friends of his colleague. In fact, it took him 4 months before he can play football with the Team again (on 11 Nov 2007).

For football injuries, visiting the ER won’t do you any good. The only thing the ER can help is to check whether there is any broken bone. Once the X-ray was done, all they can offer is a seat. And, in a good day, it would take you 6 hours to do the X-ray. If waiting is not your concern, then being watched by the Public with your full football gear on should be.

It is the Chinese Doctor (跌打) who can really help you. They have a shared name called Master (師父) and they all smoke. They don’t talk much and they knew what had happened to you before you even sit down. My Master only asks me 2 questions: Football? Smoke? Then he would focus on his business and I will watch his 80’s small TV which, don’t know why, always showing horse racing.

What really surprise me is that Master did heal me, every single time. So, I have no say even he charged me HK$350 for a 5 to 15 minutes service (depends on number of patients who are waiting). I do missing him and I promise to myself I will bring along few egg tarts to him next time. Touch wood.

Besides their service, Master provides you another amazing product – 跌打酒. There is no English translation of such and, except the Chinese, I don’t think anyone would try using this black, dark brown or green (yes, green!) medicine. I also quite like the side effect of 跌打酒. Whenever I got injury and made use of those, I don’t need to tell my wife. She would know the first second when she come back. The smell of 跌打酒 inform even your next door that you got injury. Amazing!

I always keep 2 bottles at home. And I believe you are doing the same, or may be 3 bottles.

" 不要到失去了才知應該好好珍惜 ! " Master Plato