AN IRISH SOCCER team made up of doctors is looking for more footballers before the Medical World Cup this summer.
Doctors who are interested can try out for a place on the team to represent Ireland in the championship in Austria.
The team of footballers range in age from 27 to 61, each team must have at least two of the ten outfield players over 40 years old and a further two over 35 years old.
Only qualified doctors can take part and players must prove their credentials with copies of their passports and medical degrees when registering for the championship.
The referee also holds a medical knowledge pop-quiz on the pitch before each match to make sure the players are qualified medical doctors.
Last year the team progressed to the quarter-finals, but unfortunately their journey ended after losing a penalty shoot-out against Sweden after a thrilling 1-1 game.
Dr. Tommy Fitzgerald, Dublin-based GP and team spokesperson said, “The Medical World Cup is a fast-paced tournament where doctors from all areas of medicine come together to represent Ireland.
I would encourage all doctors with a passion for football to come along, meet and train with the team. There’s a fantastic camaraderie, and standing in the Irish jersey roaring out Amhrán na bhFiann is a huge honour.
“As medics, we tell our patients of the importance of physical exercise. The Medical World Cup team is a fantastic way to put this into practice.”
In 2017 the selected team will face counterparts from Venezuela, Canada, Catalonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, South Korea, Australia, Mexico, Austria, Denmark, USA, Germany, Brazil, Hungary, Sweden, Russia, Colombia, Great Britain, Belarus, Czech Republic and Uzbekistan.
Training sessions will take place at St Columcille’s Secondary School, Knocklyon, County Dublin on Sunday 8 January and Sunday 5 February.
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