Lobont diagnosis frustrates Ajax
Tuesday, August 6, 2002
Article summary
Exploratory surgery has revealed tendon damage which will sidelineAFC Ajax goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont for four months rather than six weeks.
Article body
AFC Ajax may not be able to call on goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont until December after surgeons discovered tendon damage in the Romanian's shoulder which will sideline him for far longer than the original diagnosis of six weeks.
Champions League woe
After spending last season loan with FC Dinamo Bucuresti in his homeland, Lobont was recalled to Amsterdam by Ajax coach Ronald Koeman after the retirement of No1 Fred Grim aged 36. He was expected to keep goal in the UEFA Champions League this season but will now miss the first group stage after exploratory surgery revealed the entire tendon in his left shoulder had been torn.
Problem for Romania
Lobont will also miss his country's opening three qualifying matches for the 2004 UEFA European Championship, but will hope to be long back in action by the time Romania tackle Denmark in what is likely to be one of the definitive matches in Group 2 in March 2003.
Goalkeeping headache
While Romania are facing up to life without Lobont, Koeman has seen his goalkeeping headache intensify. Reserve keeper Joey Didulica is also injured, forcing Ajax to field the relatively inexperienced Maarten Stekelenburg during pre-season matches with the 19-year-old Robert Zwinkels in reserve. Ajax begin the defence of their Dutch championship on 18 August, a month before the Champions League gets under way.
