GEORGE ELOKOBI: I don't do extra weights in the gym - this is the natural me. If I don't do anything for two years, I'll still be this Beast... (But I am thinking about a fitness video to reveal my secrets)

PUBLISHED: 01:30 EST, 25 October 2013 | UPDATED: 10:37 EST, 25 October 2013

George Elokobi

George 'The Beast' Elokobi describes his life as 'hard but amazing.' The Wolves defender has not had a  comfortable ride since leaving Cameroon for England at 16 with his mother. At 27, however, Elokobi finds himself in the final year of his contract at Molineux. He helped in the club's rise into the Premier League but suffered a horrible injury out on loan at Bristol City last season. In this Footballers’ Football Column he talks about the pain of being out and, of course, his stunning physique.

 
 

My career had been progressing nicely up until Wolves were relegated from the Premier League. After playing in the games I did the season before when we reached 40 points and stayed up, I came back to pre-season really looking forward to it.

I couldn't get into the side. I felt it was a bit harsh because I didn't think I could give much more than I had been giving.

I felt a bit hurt. The manager made the decisions he made. As a player, I have to respect that.

VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Elokobi's fitness video

Fighting back: George Elokobi is back playing for Wolves after a horrific injury

Fighting back: George Elokobi is back playing for Wolves after a horrific injury

Old gold: Elokobi is pleased to be back in a Wolves shirt

Old gold: Elokobi is pleased to be back in a Wolves shirt

   

More from The Footballers' Column...


 

But I didn't end up playing for most of that season. I went out on loan to Nottingham Forest and helped keep them up in the league in the Championship.

I wanted to be helping Wolves. So anyway, I had a new manager when I returned in Stale Solbakken.

But even with the new manager, I didn't see myself being in his plans either.

I didn't want to sit on the bench for the first quarter of the season. I'm not the sort of player who wants to be a substitute or sat in the stands.

I want to earn my wages on the pitch. That's why I work so hard Monday to Friday.

I asked the club if I could go out again. We agreed that I was to come back quickly if Wolves needed me. I had five options on the table. I chose Bristol City.

I chose Bristol City because I wanted a fresh challenge. I went there, three-month deal. Trained well, was in the team against Leeds for my debut.

I settled into the game as I had hoped it would go until the 42nd minute when the worst happened.

I fractured my fibula and dislocated my ankle. When I looked up at my foot, I saw that my toes were facing the back of my calf.

I said to myself: 'I've seen this happen to one or two others, I can't believe it's happened to me.'

It was the most painful thing ever. Yes, physical. But afterwards, mental.

My leg was put right on the pitch but when I put weight on it, that was the most painful.

I knew straight away that there was severe damage. When the scan came through it showed that the ligaments had gone and I had fractured my fibula.

I had an operation three days later. After the X-ray, I was moved to a private hospital. I had my surgery done in Basingstoke.

Good feeling: Elokobi is mobbed by fans after Wolves survived in the Premier League on the final day

Good feeling: Elokobi is mobbed by fans after Wolves survived in the Premier League on the final day

Premier class: Elokobi challenges Everton striker Nikica Jelavic

Premier class: Elokobi challenges Everton striker Nikica Jelavic

I put my recovery down to my religion. I'm a believer. Without God I wouldn't be playing any more.

Once it happened on the pitch, I put everything into God's hands. Only he knows if I'm going to be walking or running again.

Only he knows whether I would play again. I locked everything out.

I did say I was going to come back stronger. I had done it before with my knee. With God's blessing and hard work and dedication - and the help of the medical staff at Wolves - I knew I would come back better.

The club gave me a chance to get back. But it was a battle.

Pain: Elokobi suffers a horrific injury on his debut for Bristol City

Pain: Elokobi suffers a horrific injury on his debut for Bristol City

Long road to recovery: Elokobi at the start of his rehab process for a broken ankle

Long road to recovery: Elokobi at the start of his rehab process for a broken ankle

Natural strength: Elokobi says he no longer does weights in the gym

Natural strength: Elokobi says he no longer does weights in the gym

It's a cold place when you are down like that. But my family were there beside me, with me every step of the way.

My wife helped me into the shower and my daughter Angel Marie, who is three now, was helping take my protective boot off.

She was kissing my foot better. That gave me the conviction to come into training every day and do what I needed to do to get my strength back.

I knew the boys were going through a rough time. I tried to support them vocally. Mentally, I can't be broken. I'm smiling as I write this.

Adebayo Akinfenwa
Adebayo Akinfenwa

Battle of the beasts: Elokobi meets his match against Adebayo Akinfenwa - then playing for Northampton

You can take everything from me. Every penny I have in the bank. I know there's something for me. I will survive. I know this.

As much as I was hurting I kept being positive and praying to God that I would get back fit and I did. At this moment, my body just needs to set itself right again.

When you have been out for so long, things can go wrong with your body.

After all this time, the muscles aren't used to being worked in a certain way. It will take some time but I will be back at the moment.

 
The Beast workout: Elokobi goes through his paces on video

The Beast workout: Elokobi goes through his paces on video

George Elokobi

In good shape: Elokobi poses with his top off

In good shape: Elokobi poses with his top off

When you have been out, you just want to get back for your club. If you do that, the national team will take care of itself.

I am just concentrating on me. Getting myself back fit, playing a game. Playing back-to-back games. Getting five matches under my belt.

I look at my body and how I look after it.

I am back in the gym but I don't do any extra weights. I'm just strong. This is natural me. I don't do any weights - no strength work at all.

If I don't do anything for the next two years, I'll still look like this. I can fine-tune them. But I don't need to be killing myself in the gym.

I have a couple of little secrets. I'm not going to tell anyone about them.

I think I'll being out a fitness DVD or something for the public so they can think about it.

I have no problem now with my ankle. I want to throw my strappings away.

That's a big thing for me. I come in, do what I need to do with my body to get myself right - and that's it.

 

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Yams, rice, plantin, ocra soup, garri, stock fish and pine wine! Food of African champions!

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No matter how good you think you look your still playing in league 1 - crs79, should have chose the blue pill, 25/10/2013 14:59 And which club in the premier league do you play for? - dmc, Belfast, 25/10/2013 21:02 I don't and how about you? Oh you don't either... I'm sorry but what actually was the point of your comment?

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I think what he is trying to say is, he is a pro footballer getting lots of money kicking a ball...as for you...nobody knows you and its likely nobody will care when u pass away.

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And what .. Sorry which premier league team is he playing for...

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Narcissistic twerp.

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Enter your comments inch a Merchant Banker

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Calisthenics, build muscle with your own bodyweight, job done

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I hear you but you will reach a point of plateau, if u want to maximize your strength u need heavy weights.

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To credit god for your recovery is an insult to the medical staff who actually did all the work -_-

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Plus... our beliefs are far from unproven. You're just not open minded enough to understand... Like I said, "when the time comes..."

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There has never been any peer-reviewed, scientific evidence to prove that the Christian god exists. Try again.

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No matter how good you think you look your still playing in league 1 - crs79, should have chose the blue pill, 25/10/2013 14:59 And which club in the premier league do you play for?

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Well he looks better than the posers on facebook, & if people ( what seems like most people now ) need 2 hours a day for 5 days a week down the gym to look good then they are obviously missing out on something to do. Some people need to take the easier option & just stop eating/drinking so much.

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Hulk

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