Harrison Devenish-Meares will pull on the Sydney FC jersey for what he describes as his own ‘World Cup Final” tonight, as he makes a second consecutive appearance for his boyhood club.
It’s a scenario he may not have envisaged, were it not for a harrowing cancer diagnosis given to his mum, Rossana, just three years ago.
The 28-year old was playing professionally in the Romanian second division for Polithnica Timisoara but was back in Sydney during the off-season break.
“I hadn’t been home for about four years and my family and friends threw a little party,” he explains.
“We were dancing around in the living room when mum took a tumble and broke one of her ribs.
“When they did the scan, they found a tumor in her kidney.
“When I found out I was in shock, but I was unapologetically optimistic and I just tried to be a rock for her.
“We had no idea how serious the prognosis would be and I think it really came crashing home when I was on the plane and going back. It made it very difficult to start pre-season again.
“I just wanted to stay and support her for a few weeks but that can cost you a contract in football which is quite unforgiving at times.
“So I went there (to Romania) and tried to continue to do my job despite the circumstances going on back home.
“It was a big reason why I started actively looking for a return to the A-League.
“I still had six months left on my contract in Romania, so I went back to finish the season and after that season I decided to come back to Australia.
“I didn’t have any A-League club at the time, I was going to play in the NPL (at Rockdale) but I was invited to train full time with Sydney FC at the same time, and I was fortunate enough that it turned into contract here.
“It was a massive risk (to come home), but I remember my best friend saying they’d never met anyone who’d taken a risk this big who it didn’t pay off for, and that gave me confidence to throw the kitchen sink at it.
“I turned down offers in Europe to come home for nothing, and it paid off for me massively and I’ve never been this happy in my career.
“I love this football club.”
Rossana is now thankfully in remission following surgery but has regular check-ups. She also works for the Cancer Council who are one of Sydney FC’s newest partners for whom Harrison is keen to be an ambassador.
“It’s awesome after eight years away to spend more time with my family, I see my mum at least twice a week and we just play cards or ping pong or go out for breakfast,” he said.
“This whole experience has made me so grateful for the time I do spend with my family and I’m really proud to support this new partnership between Sydney FC and the Cancer Council because it impacts me so personally.
“They are an organisation who have supported my mum, and my mum supports through fund-raising.
“I’m really stoked about this partnership and proud that I can be the one to promote it.”
Devenish-Meares will walk out in front of around 20 family and friends against Kaya Iloilo FC at Jubilee Stadium in the AFC Champions League 2 tonight, in his third appearance for the club.
For cancer information and support call Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 Information and Support line.
