A-LEAGUE
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Alone in a Chinese hotel room with a towel over his face and tears in his eyes, Corey Gameiro was uncertain about the long road ahead.
On tour with the Olyroos, he'd just heard the news an ACL injury would more than likely consign his blossoming A-League campaign to the scrap heap.
A blistering preseason and prosperous start to the year in front of goal under new Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold all but wasted as the Port Kembla junior stared down the barrel of close to a year on the sidelines.
But as all seemed lost, the 21-year-old quickly discovered he had something to be grateful for.
"When I was flying back on a 14-hour plane trip from China I was worried about how lonely the next nine months would be, but the support I have had from people around Wollongong and around the football community has been more than I would have ever expected," Gameiro says.
"It is greatly appreciated from me, and my family have been grateful to see it too."
Gameiro received support from all sections of the football fraternity, as players, fans and punters on the street wished him all the best with his recovery.
He underwent surgery a little over a fortnight ago and has begun the initial phase of what will be a long recovery at his family home in Port Kembla.
Movement remains limited and progress will be slow, but the former Fulham product is adamant he will return to the pitch in the same form he left it.
"I am confident I will get back to the level I was because of the faith that Arnie has shown me," Gameiro said. "When I went away with the Olyroos, Aurelio Vidmar made me captain of that little camp and really gave me more confidence and belief in myself.
"Ange Postecoglou was nice enough to send me a text when he found out what happened. It gives me motivation to get back to where I was, knowing that when I get back to where I was, the doors will still be open for me."
In the meantime Gameiro plans on giving back to the community which has given so much to him.
A year-six formal last week, a sports presentation over the weekend and numerous other engagements await him over the festive season.
"I love giving back to Wollongong because growing up when I was here there wasn't too many faces to look up to and there was no-one really for me to aspire to," Gameiro said.
"That is why whenever I am down here, I am massive on giving back to kids and the community when I can."