WALES NEED MORE ...AND MOORE
Former lifeguard Kieffer knows tomorrow’s huge clash with Iran is sink or swim for the Dragons
KIEFFER MOORE knows better than most that it is sink or swim for Wales in their World Cup crunch against Iran tomorrow – because he used to be a lifeguard.
But life was never a beach for the giant striker, who has tirelessly worked his way up from non-League to the Premier League.
And Moore, who only this season became a top-flight player at the age of 29, is up for the challenge in Qatar.
Bournemouth are his 12th club after working as a lifeguard and personal trainer when he was a teenager.
Now he is set to start in his first World Cup game in Doha after a remarkable rise from Truro to the Cherries.
The Torquay-born ace, 30, said: “I’m enjoying every moment, every second here.
“My whole career has led to this point.
“It has taken a lot of dedication and hard work to get to this point.
“To play in a World Cup is massive. I’m very grateful and humble that I’ve managed to get here. It’s an incredible experience.
“It’s what you dream of as a little boy, to play at World Cups.
“If I manage to start on Friday, it will be a very proud moment for myself and my family and one which will have taken a lot of hard work and dedication to get to.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve had a tough life, but it’s been a tough journey to get to this point, a lot of sacrifice and hard work.
“When I was working at the same time I was playing football, it
was a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifices I had to put in.
“But ultimately that’s led me to have this work ethos which I’ve carried the whole way with me and I still have now.
“I have life experience from being out in the real world, whereas when you’re in a football academy, I suppose you are a bit sheltered from that.”
Moore came off the bench at half-time against USA at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Monday to change the game and help the Dragons earn a 1-1 draw.
Now Moore has Iran in his sights after they were hit for six by England in a heavy defeat which included the loss of their No.1 keeper Alireza Beiranvand to injury.
Victory is likely to leave Wales second in the group and on course to qualify for the last 16 ahead of their third game with leaders England.
Moore (right) added: “I knew what I had to do at half-time – just play my game really.
“I wanted to impose myself on the game and do what I could.
“I have that physical and height advantage, so I like to play to my strengths. I like to bring other people into play.
“I felt like it was a great opportunity to do that and, the way the game panned out, it played perfectly into it. Over the past four or five years, I feel like I’ve really grown as a player and I really enjoy these big moments.
“When I’m called upon for these moments, I’ve always put up performances and I can’t wait for Friday.
“We know what to do. England played really well to utilise those positions and to get balls into the box against Iran. If we can replicate that, then hopefully we can get the same outcome.”