SOCCER STAR LIVING IN A USA ‘STATE OF EMERGENCY’
US profressional soccer star, Mikie Rowe-Walsh from Campile is living in a state of emergency in Georgia, USA.
Mikie said: ‘As of Tuesday evening, the county I live in has declared a state of emergency so now we cannot leave the town we live in and can only really leave the house to train individually or in groups of up to three and to collect the meals provided to us by the club. We are basically on semi-lockdown now.’
In January 2019 the free-scoring forward from Kilmannock was honoured at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Ceremony and Reception in Chicago, having been named the NCAA Division II Men’s National Player of the Year and the NCAA Division II Men’s National Scholar Player of the Year in December.
Mikie, 22, is the son of Georgina and Anthony Rowe.
He was on a scholarship to Young Harris College in Georgia, playing with the Mountain Lions team before moving to play professional for Tormento.
Mikie became only the 13th player in league history to score 20 or more goals in a season with 22 to lead the PB Conference in 2018.
The former Horeswood NS and Good Counsel College student signed a professional contract for Tormenta FC last year and is based near Savannah.
He was due to start the new season next week before the new restrictions were put in place.
‘We are still in pre season so it is a vital part of the season to train and keep pushing boundaries in terms of fitness levels. We were training normally with different protocols in place such as having our own water bottles, temperature checks every morning and not gathering in large groups where possible. We are now at a stage where we will come into the training ground in groups of three and do an individual based session with a coach. We then get our lunch provided for us by the club to take home to limit as much big group interaction as possible.’
He said There are limitations on all players.
‘We have two sport psychologists that work with the team every week so those meetings will now take place over webcam which is great to be able to do. Our sport scientists won’t be in to training for a while so those are something we will go without until further notice.
Team gym sessions and ice baths have also been cancelled for the foreseeable future.
Mikie said: ‘So it is definitely not a normal work week but we are still lucky enough to be getting some sort of training in.
‘Outside of training, we have made a strong commitment to limit contact with outside people where possible.
‘This is very important in a team environment because it’s likely if one player gets it, the the whole squad will be struck down and that could kill all the progress we have made in pre season so far.’ There is no going out to restaurants or bars.
‘Only going to the shop when it’s really necessary and staying out of any large group gatherings so in that sense, it is similar to what is happening back home.’ The new season was due to start on March 28 but that has provisionally been pushed back to April 18.
‘But I would be amazed if that went ahead,’ he said. ‘Personally I would be surprised if we played a competitive game before June 1 which is obviously disappointing considering we met for pre season at the end of January and we had that March 28 date at the forefront of our focus during the long winter months when we are out of season. With all that being said, there are bigger things than football and our health and the health of others are so much more important. I would not be surprised if all training came to a halt here pretty soon; it’s definitely a possibility. Donald Trump is starting to come out and speak more and more about the necessary steps that America needs to take to flatten the curve on the virus so I am hopeful the people do the right thing to limit the spread of all of this. Trump is also likely to stop inter state travel so we would not be able to leave Georgia for example. I know that the virus is much more rampant up the north of the country and that is one way to stop it becoming just as bad nationwide.
‘For me personally, i have been in contact with family back home a lot and they are taking all the precautions they possibly can to stay safe and it’s just a matter of hoping and praying that they can stay safe and furthermore, I am hoping that the people of Campile, Wexford and the whole country aren’t affected too much. It’s a strange situation to be in for everyone and in particular being away from home, there is a lot of uncertainty, but if everyone does their own little bit, we can stay stay, and more importantly protect those that need it the most.’
THERE ARE BIGGER THINGS THAN FOOTBALL AND OUR HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF OTHERS ARE SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT