Moore gets NZU17 call-up
Taranaki footballer Liam Moore was having a driving lesson on Wednesday with plans to take a test the following day. But, that night, he got a call that changed his plans.
After missing out on a spot in the New Zealand under-17s squad for the World Cup in India, Moore was called up as injury replacement. On Thursday he flew to Wellington to get his visa and, on Friday, he was on his way to India.
‘‘He’ll be absolutely buzzing,’’ his father Andrew Moore said.
It’s been quite the journey for Moore, 17, to get into the World Cup squad after twice missing out on getting a chance to represent the country.
Based in Wellington, the centreback had been part of the group for the past couple of years and had been going to under-17s camps for a long time.
Moore trialled for a spot in the Oceania Cup squad, who took out the competition to earn their spot in the World Cup, but missed out.
‘‘He was a bit devastated about that at the time. But he spent some time working with Ben Sigmund down at the [Wellington] Phoenix.
‘‘They chucked him in the deep end a little bit and he played in the National Premiership against Auckland City at the end of last season just to get his mind off the disappointment.’’ The former Francis Douglas Memorial College student was moved out of Taranaki for better footballing opportunities.
The move came after his older brother, Ben, found he was too isolated in the region a few years ago when he was trying to get into the under-17s squad.
In July, Moore shook off whatever disappointment he had and trialled for a place in the World Cup squad.
While he wasn’t picked in the main squad, named in September, he did enough to be named as a non-travelling reserve.
Because he was preparing for the upcoming National Premiership and National Youth League, his match fitness was right where it needed to be when he was called upon.
‘‘It comes down to his perserverance, and he’s had a good group of people around him that have helped him push through. If there’s any message out of this it’s to say that just because you’ve been knocked back, it doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen.’’
Moore arrived in India at the weekend and joined the squad as they prepare to play Paraguay in their second match of the tournament in Mumbai on Tuesday morning (NZT), after opening their account with a 1-1 draw against Turkey.