The soccer world inhabited by Julius James was turned upside down last July when the veteran defender from Trinidad and Tobago broke his leg in two places in a match against Tampa Bay only days after his 31st birthday.
“Less than a year ago I had a crazy injury,” James told NASL.com. “Now I have the opportunity to continue to play.”
The rest of his season was spent doing color commentary for San Antonio home game telecasts. He was cleared by doctors to begin training toward the end of November, spent time with his family and worked out with some local clubs in Trinidad, and also obtained his USSF B coaching license after a grueling course. With little desire to hang up his cleats, James said he reached out to several NASL clubs. Then his agent called. Fort Lauderdale was interested.
“The opportunity came early because they started training in early January with the Florida Cup,” James said. “With me not playing in six months I wanted to get my feet wet and I had a chance to get a contract before any other team came forward. This is a team that went to the semifinals (and reached the final in 2014) the last two years. South Florida is close to Trinidad. I was going to play against some big teams in the Florida Cup and then go to China for two weeks. It seemed like a pretty good start for someone who had a double fracture.”
After opening the 2016 Spring Season with a 1-1 draw against expansion Miami then having last week off, the Strikers return to action when they visit Minnesota United on Saturday night. In his first NASL match since last July, James saw 45 minutes of action against Miami FC In the game’s 11th minute, he has whistled for a trip on Ariel Martínez in the penalty area, leading to Dario Cvitanich’s successful spot kick that goes down as the first goal in Miami FC history.
All in all, it was a noteworthy Strikers debut in which he confessed to an anxious approach to the match.
“It still feels good,” James said. “I didn’t tell anyone that I was so nervous before the game. The [preseason] games were good prep, but it’s not the same as playing a league game. I was really excited but really nervous. Honestly, it was very emotional when you realize that less than a year ago I had the injury and now I have the opportunity to continue to play. I’m glad I got the butterflies out. Sometimes I replay it [the injury] in my mind and I cringe. But you have to go there and you have to be brave and let your love for the sport be your guide.
“For me, everything is exciting. I’m seeing things with fresh eyes. I’m just a grateful man.”