After a three year hiatus, the Transplant Australia Football Club gathered at Valentines Park in New South Wales to play its first exhibition game in many years against Linfield football club for the Doujon Zammit shield to honour Doujon who passed away from a tragic accident in Greece in 2008. As tough as it was to lose their twenty year old son, Doujons parents Oliver and Rosemary honoured his wishes to become an organ donor because six months prior they had had the discussion and they knew his wishes.
In what was a great turnout for TAFC having twenty five players from all around Australia, attend the development camp, and World Cup trials the day before, there was no shortage of players and quality out on the pitch.
Many new transplant recipients and living donors joined the team since we last played in 2019 and it was a well fought effort to come out 10-1 victors against Lindfield FC.
The team also observed a minute silence for the late Matty Hempstalk, who was previously the chairman and founder of the Transplant Australia Football Club. Matty tragically passed away in 2022 and was very passionate about football and the Transplant community. To honor Matty‘s legacy the team have decided to award the Matty Hempstalk player of the match award to the best and fairest player each time we participate in exhibition game to promote organ donation.
The team looks forward to preparations for the inaugural Transplant football World Cup being held in severe Italy, September 2024 and other exhibition games.
Recent comments