It’s game on for back from the dead footballer
Fernando signs up with new team
Fernando Lafuente 29-year-old has once again become the talk of Irish amateur football after signing up with Galway side Colga FC.
Fernando said: “In my first game, I had to come on after a teammate’s injury. The referee knew who I was and he said, ‘I’m glad to see you alive.’
“Soon word started to spread to the sideline. Everyone asking me if I was the real Fernando.”
At one point he had become so popular he was even hired to do some PR work at Christmas for Paddy
With mum Amparo Power and appeared alongside English football icon Kevin Keegan in a promotional video. Fernando said: “All the media coverage made me more alive than ever.” After the hoax story generated such huge public interest, Irish bookies were even taking bets on which side the footballer would sign up with next. Fernando added: “They [my teammates] are very friendly and welcoming crowd. They regret not betting in Paddy Power for me to join Colga FC. We were
Fake death notice in November In action for Ballybrack FC
Number of current playing members on Colga FC, which was founded in 1996
in a rush closing my transfer as the transfer window was closing next day.
“I joined the club couple hours before the transfer window closed. A million thanks to Ballybrack FC staff that helped me with their part of the paperwork.”
The software engineer, who lives with wife Louisa in Clarinbridge, Co Galway, said his teammates were taken aback when he walked into the dressing room.
He added: “They didn’t believe they would see Fernando in a Clarinbridge team. But I’m still alive and kicking.”
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