Brazil dreading an injury to Kaka

By Ulrike John Jun 8, 2010, 14:21 GMT

   Johannesburg - If Brazil's coaching staff could bundle superstar Kaka in bubble wrap they just might do so. Anything it takes to avoid an injury to their main midfield maestro.

Brazil national team coach Carlos Dunga is taking plenty of caution regarding the 2007 World Footballer of the Year.

'We have to slow him down because if it were up to him he would train mornings, afternoons and nights,' said Dunga of the Real Madrid playmaker.

A number of World Cup nations have already saw superstars downed by the injury bug and miss out on South Africa 2010. Brazil, however, is even more reliant on Kaka than other teams on their injured stars - especially since Dunga has no real alternative after not nominating Ronaldinho.

Kaka scored a goal for the five-time world champions in Brazil's 5-1 blasting of Tanzania on Monday night. But most importantly for the Brazilian coaching staff was that the 28-year-old played a full 90 minutes.

Kaka admitted afterwards that he was 'somewhat inhibited' during the game after recent thigh problems.

'But today I felt no pain,' Kaka added after the game. 'And it gives me confidence that I was able to play the whole match.'

Kaka will be one of the biggest factors in Brazil's efforts to extend their record World Cup title tally to six crowns.

The South Americans' last triumph came at Korea/Japan 2002. And a young Kaka was limited to just one appearance as a substitute eight years ago. At Germany 2006, Kaka was stuck in the shadows of Ronaldinho and was subbed out late as Brazil exited with a 1-0 loss to France in the quarter-finals.

This time around, Ricardo Izecson dos Santos - Kaka's real name - knows only one goal for his team: the World Cup title.

'We have a history that we need to make good on,' said Kaka.

Kaka though comes into the World Cup after a tough first season in Spain after arriving in Real Madrid from AC Milan on a 65 million euro transfer fee.

And the third-highest paid player in football history - behind only Cristiano Ronaldo (94 million euro) and Zinedine Zidane (75 million) - rarely shone in the Spanish capital.

He missed a number of weeks with a groin injury during the season and some even believed that Kaka wanted to rest up for South Africa late in the season.

Kaka now is going full force to find his lost form.

'I have to relax a little bit. But I still have a week left for some special drills to feel better,' he said.

'I am certain that I will improve over the course of the tournament. That's what motivates me the most.'

Should Kaka not be available for the whole tournament, Dunga would be forced to completely retool his strategy. Elano of Galatasaray Istanbul or Roma's Julio Baptista would be possible alternatives to an injured Kaka.

Those options would be a replacement of his position but not necessarily of Kaka's skills.

The fears of an injured Kaka have the Brazilian training staff wondering if they should get out the bubble wrap - just in case.