FLAMBOUYANT striker Kemar ‘Savi’ Mills made a return to competitive football on Sunday after an absence of almost three years due to an horrific head injury suffered during the South Central Confederation Super League final for Humble Lion in June, 2009.

The lanky forward, who turns 32 in June — ironically, the same month of his tragedy — came on for the last 15 minutes of Humble Lion’s Premier League match against Harbour View at Effortville on Sunday to a warm reception from home fans.

Although he showed only glimpses of the player he was before his injury, the colourful goalscorer was not overawed by his return, but credited his comeback from the potential career-ending injury to hard work and determination.

“It’s has taken me two seasons to get back to this point,” Mills told the Jamaica Observer following the match.

“It has been nothing but hard work to get back in the team… and it has been just that, hard work and dedication,” he said.

The former Garvey Maceo daCosta Cup star said he felt ready from January, but pointed out that coach Lenworth Hyde did not want to rush his return.

“I was focusing on being on the field and all these things… but now I feel great that my hard work has paid off. As the coach said, I have to keep my focus, and that’s what I intend to do… and make it be a success,” he added.

During his stint on Sunday, it was observed that Mills did not use his head. However, he reassured that he his fully capable of heading the ball at any given time.

“I can head, that is not a problem,” he reiterated.

During his period of inactivity, Humble Lion, under chairman Mike Henry, have seen to all the players’ medical needs and even kept Mills on their payroll.

Hyde said he has watched Mills carefully during his time at the club and although they thought about bringing him back last season, he had his doubts and delayed his return. However, he feels Mills has made the requisite progress to earn his selection.

“We wanted to get a look at him because he has been training very hard,” Hyde told the Observer.

“He never leaves the team, even when he’s not playing he’s always here, and so I felt like giving him a little piece of the action,” he said.

“Last year I didn’t give him any play because I had doubts, but he looks ready now and with more games, I think he will pick up, and he will get better,” he added.

Mills, meanwhile, thanked his my well-wishers for their support and for continuing to believe in him.