News By Copper Football League

Kareem Khalile #43 Phoenix Outlaw has long road to recovery, needs our help!

Kareem Khalile a 19 year old Defensive Back for the Phoenix Outlaws was injured in the opening game of the 2010 season Saturday January 16th at Moon Valley High School. Just six and a half minutes into the opening game, Khalile's football season ended. The 6'0" 195 lb cornerback from Corona del Sol High School came up to make a tackle on a sweep and caught a knee to the side of the helmet, leaving him lying motionless on the field.

Khalile was transported to John C Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix, Sunday he underwent Arthroscopic spinal cord surgery; doctors removed an inflamed vertebra and replaced it with a metal rod. Although it is very early in the process, doctors are optimistic about Kareem's recovery and impressed with the amount of feeling and movement that Kareem has regained, but the road will be a long one.

Kareem will be transported on Wednesday January 20, 2010 to Saint Josephs Hospital and Medical Center where he will begin extensive therapy and rehabilitation. He has a support system of family, Mom Eslah, Dad Ezzat, Brother Ahmed (20) and sister Fatma (16), girlfriend Hillary Johnson, his 54 new brothers, the Phoenix Outlaws football team and the entire Copper State Football league family.

Kareem graduated from Corona del Sol H.S. in 2008 were he played Running Back and Defensive Back under Coach Gary Venturo for the 9th ranked Aztecs and helped them to a 9-3 Season in 2007. Following graduation Khalile enrolled at Mesa Community College where he is planning on furthering his education and hopes to earn a degree majoring in Kinesiology. Kareem's love for the game of football and his competitive nature led him to Copper State Football where he spent the 2009 season playing Running Back for the East Valley Mustangs, he currently plays defensive back for the Phoenix Outlaws. Although he has been an Outlaw for a few months, Coach Polchin is already impressed with the contribution Khalile has made to the team, "Kareem - even though you are new to the squad, it did not take us long to respect your game. You are one of us now." Coach Polchin said.

Copper State Football League Owner Ron Fennern has set up a special funds account for Kareem and has made the first donation of $500.00. He is challenging all teams to match his donation. "Let's all step up and show this great kid that he has our long term support" Fennern said. "Kareem has the biggest challenge of his young life ahead of him, his recovery and rehabilitation... He and his family will need our financial support to help him through, but for the grace of God, something most of us will never experience".

To donate to the Kareem Khalile fund click here:
https://www.copperfootball.com/player_donation.php

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
350 West Thomas Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85013
602-406-3000

Updated Friday Jan 22nd
We visited Kareem in the Nuero Rehabilitation unit at St Joseph's Medical center today. He appears to be making significant progress, in very short time he has regained some movement in his arms and legs. It will be a couple of weeks before the swelling subsides in the area of his spine that suffered the trauma, they expect that he will be in rehab for 4 to 5 weeks. Everyone is very optimistic that he will have a full recovery.

Kareem is upbeat, positive and working hard in therapy. All he wants is a good nights sleep and an IN and OUT double double burger, with cheese and onions please, oh, and some home made cookies... He has PT scheduled Saturday morning but will be free to accept visitors the rest of the weekend.

So far, in less than a week, we have raised a little over $1,000.00. John Polchin and the Outlaws have stepped up big. Thanks guys! Kareems family is very very appreciative of the financial support they are receiving from his CFL football family. We are asking for contributions of $5.00 or more to help Kareem and his family take care of his personal expenses while he recovers from his injury. You can click on the secure link above to send Kareem your support.