Trevor Thomas had high hopes of resuscitating his football career after surviving a serious health scare in September but fate has decreed otherwise.
The recurrence of the medical problem that almost cost him his life a few months back has signalled the end of Thomas’s playing career after doctors advised the lanky striker to give up football in order to avoid unnecessary complications in the future.
The news came as a hammer blow for Thomas who was admitted to hospital earlier this week suffering from a blood clot in his brain for the second time in the space of nine months.
“I almost cried when the doctors told me that I must quit football,” a heartbroken Thomas, who broke the news on his Facebook page, told Times of Malta yesterday.
“I was left speechless.
“I was keen to keep playing for two to three more years as I felt that I still had more to offer, maybe not in the Premier League but certainly in the lower divisions of Maltese football.
“As my health issues prevented me from training regularly in the last few months, I was intent on starting pre-season on my own to build up my fitness before joining a new club this summer but this is no longer possible.”
Thomas, who is only a few months short of his 34th birthday, has had stints with several clubs, including Hibernians, Valletta and Senglea Athletic, his hometown club, winning nine promotions in total. Last season, he was on the books of Attard FC.
It will take Thomas a while to adapt to life without football but he is heeding the doctors’ advice.
“My health is my top priority,” Thomas, who is still receiving treatment at Mater Dei Hospital, added.
My health is my top priority. The doctors made it clear that I have to quit football
“The doctors made it clear that I had no option but to stop playing.
“As I need to take blood-thinning medication for the rest of my life, I must avoid contact sports.”
Thomas explained that blood clots in the brain can cause severe symptoms.
“There are times when half of my body is paralysed,” Thomas said.
“I also have difficulties speaking.”
His medical condition may have cut short Thomas’s playing career but he has no intention of walking away from the game completely.
“I want to stay in football and it’s my intention to take some coaching courses when I recover,” he said.
These are indeed tough times for Thomas, an outgoing and bubbly young man who is very popular among his numerous friends, particularly in Senglea.
He comes from a sporting family as his father Sunny, who died many years ago, was a respected rower who achieved a lot of success with Senglea in the September 8 and March 31 regattas, while his brothers Timmy and Tyrone Thomas turn out for Senglea Athletic.
Timmy, 29, and his younger brother Tyrone, 26, were instrumental in helping the Yellow-Reds secure promotion to Division One last season.
With a total of 27 goals, Timmy Thomas ended the season as joint top-scorer of Division Two along with Għargħur’s Muda Fagbeja.
Thomas Sr is grateful for the support he is receiving from the local football family.
“I have received a lot of phone calls over the past few days,” Thomas said.
“A friend of mine who has close connections with Gudja United, one of the clubs I played for, called to tell me that I can start doing some coaching at their nursery.
“I really appreciated his gesture.”