LIFE has been tough for Anwar Uddin in recent months but the footballer is looking for the ultimate high this weekend.
Defender Uddin will be part of the Dagenham and Redbridge team who will be playing Rotherham United in the League Two play-off final at Wembley on Sunday (30).
Uddin has spent much of the season nursing illnesses and injuries which resulted in the 28-year-old sitting on the sidelines for five months.
But the Daggers are just 90 minutes away from getting into League One, two divisions below the Premier League.
If achieved, it would be their second promotion in four seasons.
“It’s a bit manic at the moment,” Uddin told the Asian Grapevine. “I’ve got people who I haven’t spoken to in eight years who are asking for tickets for Sunday.
“It’s great for the club and for me personally. Only a handful of people get to play at Wembley so it will be great to be there.”
The Daggers have been classed as “just a pub team from Essex” by their own fans but they will be looking to have a big party at the home of football.
And Uddin believes his decision to join the club when they were a non-league side was the right choice.
“A lot of people frowned when I went down to Dagenham six years ago because it was a small club in non-league,” said Uddin.
“But we’ve come up from the non-leagues and if we win on Sunday, will be taking on the likes of Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday next season.”
Reflecting on an injury-hit season, Uddin put his recovery down to experience and mental toughness.
“I got injured on the first day of training and missed pre-season, which is one of the worst things for a player,” said Uddin.
“I then went on-loan to Grays Athletic to join up with Julian Dicks, a former team-mate at west ham. Then I ripped my hamstring and that put me out.”
But Uddin drew on his previous experience of suffering big injuries to get back into the squad and perform for them.
“I’ve missed five months of the season but got back straight into the thick of the action. The manager needed me to play a role at the end of the season and I managed to get a few games under my belt.
“I’ve dealt with serious injuries before. When I was at Bristol Rovers I was out for 18 months,” said Uddin, who ripped his groin in three places before going for an operation.
“If I hadn’t got injured, I could have been playing at a higher level because there was a lot of interest from teams in the Championship.
“But I think I am mentally strong and I managed to come back from that injury, coming down the leagues to play for Dagenham and Redbridge, captaining them to league football. I kept mentally strong during that period and that’s the most important thing. If you let your head drop, it’s not good for you.”
ENDS