Five-goal hero Rehman couldn't walk a few years ago

Watching Osaf ur Rehman masterfully maneuver the ball through the hockey turf, it is hard to believe that the Mumbai forward could barely walk two years ago.

Rehman, who was only six months ago relieved of an iron rod fitted in his right leg after being injured in a road accident, scored five goals in his team's 14-2 win over Dadra and Nagar Haveli in a Pool-B round-robin league match of the IHF West Zone Senior National Championship at the Mumbai Hockey Association (MHA) stadium in Churchgate yesterday.

Mumbai's Osaf Ur Rehman (right) celebrates after scoring against Dadra and Nagar Haveli during an IHF West Zone Senior National Championship league match at MHA stadium yesterday. Pic/Atul Kambleu00a0

As a teenager Rehman was considered by many as a future India prospect. He was part of - the senior development team, Indian team's probable list for the Doha Asian Games 2006, a stand-by for the 2004-05 Doha Asian Games, and also in many other senior national camps. But an accident in 2008 left the Bhopal lad bed-ridden for six months and kept him out of the game for a further two years.

Rehman (24) finally made a comeback to the sport last year and he is keen to revive his hockey career. "The accident in 2008-09 almost finished my career. A drunk auto driver hit my bike and injured my leg. I wasn't sure if I would ever get back on the hockey turf. But, I kept the faith in myself and that helped me comeback," said Rehman, who is currently employed with Western Railway in the signal and telecommunication department as a helper. u00a0

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