It’s been a hectic couple of weeks for 13-year old Kaia but today he was all smiles after meeting some of his favourite Perth Glory FC players at training.
The avid football fan, who relocated to Perth from Northern Ireland two years ago with his family, was injured after an unruly fan lit a flare at nib Stadium during the match against Sydney FC.
Kaia was taken to hospital, where he spent six days recovering at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Fortunately after some fantastic work by Perth doctors, the budding star won’t need any skin grafting on his right leg.
Today he met the team at gym training at Goodlife and was excited to meet one of his heroes, fellow Irishman, Andy Keogh.
“Perth Glory has been 100-percent supportive behind us and Kaia” mum Naomi said.
“The club has been very genuine, the players are a great bunch of guys and the constant contact with the club has been great, I can’t say enough about the good work Perth Glory has done” she added.Â
Naomi (her surname has been withheld for privacy)Â said what happened to Kaia was not Glory’s fault and urged fans not to break the rules and bring flares to games.
Glory coach Kenny Lowe, young gun Danny De Silva and club captain Michael Thwaite visited the teenager while he was in hospital
De Silva said he was impressed by the youngster’s strength and determination to get back on his feet.
“He seemed like a strong young man, he seemed to be handling it very well and was maintaining a positive attitude despite everything that happened”.Â
Kaia who plays football in Perth’s northern suburbs, is aiming to pull on the boots soon.
Meantime, Glory will travel to Western Sydney this weekend to face the Wanderers in what will be the team’s last match of the season.
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