Moore will focus on soccer, not cancer

(AAP) - Countless tributes have made recovering Socceroo Craig Moore feel very special.

But the veteran defender says feeling "normal" will be the key to his battle with
testicular cancer.
That's why just eight days after undergoing surgery to remove a testicle, Moore felt
"like a young kid" when he returned to the training paddock with his A-League club
Queensland Roar in Brisbane on Wednesday.
"For me it is very important for things to stay as normal as possible," Moore said.
"Anybody who knows me knows that I enjoy life, and football is a big part of my life."
Moore, 32, has been touched by the messages of support that have flooded in since
being diagnosed with cancer last week.
The Socceroos were the latest to humble the hard man after players completed their
final training session before their World Cup qualifier in Bahrain sporting shirts
with Moore's name and trademark No.3 on the back.
"I'd like to thank everybody who has shown their support. I've had messages from all
different types of people, and it's been fantastic," Moore said.
"As far as the lads in the Socceroos, I've had loads of messages coming through from
them as well, wishing me all the best."
But typically from a bloke who postponed his surgery in order to play for Queensland
on November 8, Moore added: "My reply (to the Socceroos) was `thanks very much
obviously things are going well over here but three points over there would be nice
as well'."
Indeed soccer remains Moore's focus - not the follow-up tests in six weeks.
"Up until that stage I will not be thinking a great deal about it (tests). I will be
back training and playing games in that period of time, so I will enjoy that," he
said.
"I've always been a positive person, that won't change.
"With the recent diagnosis I will still live my life from day to day not in fear of
what the next scan or the next blood test may show."
Despite his sudden return to training, Moore not only ruled himself out of Sunday's
A-League clash with lowly Perth at Suncorp Stadium but admitted he did not know when
he would return.
"I'm not going to rush into anything and be silly," he said.
He may not be ready to play but Moore may yet make an impact for the Roar this weekend.
Queensland have not won at home this season - but Moore joked that drought would
probably be broken on Sunday.
"It's going to happen, isn't it, when I am not playing. Then I will be the jinx I
guess," he laughed.
If the sight of Moore returning to training doesn't inspire the Roar, surely nothing
will.