–Visually impaired community optimistic about the sport

HAVING just returned from Barbados following an intense workshop on the sport of blind football, Leroy Phillips is all set to put his training to use, and to motivate those in the blind community, especially the youths, to get involved.

Having acquired a vision disability at the age of six, Leroy is now a ‘B1,’ a term used in sports to indicate total blindness.
Last August, National Paralympics Associations across the Caribbean were invited by the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) to introduce blind football worldwide, and a one-week training camp was held in Barbados with participants from Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and other countries in the region.

“We had a wonderful time when veteran trainers from Greece, Europe and those places came and introduced the sport to the group of blind people,” Leroy shared with Pepperpot Magazine a few days ago. He couldn’t be happier that the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) chose him to represent the country, and receive the training.

It was a week of both practical and theoretical sessions which proved useful to building the group’s knowledge on the sport so that they can go back to their respective countries and help to mobilise the sport among the blind population.

“We’re already putting things in place to have that rolled out. I hope the sport takes off to help blind people explore their abilities and acquire independent skills; going places, exploring the world and developing as individuals,” Leroy expressed.

Following the training, in an informal setting, the group had an opportunity to practise where two teams were set up to play against each other, putting into practice all that was taught in the workshop.
“Following that programme, we have a lot planned, such as Online seminars and practical sessions. We will travel for developmental training, and we hope that we will receive adequate funding for games to be played locally, and for players to participate in overseas games,” Leroy said.

He revealed that by the end of this year, a Blind Sports Association will be formed in Guyana to manage the operation of all sports here.
In encouraging the blind community to use the sport as a tool for growth and development, Leroy said: “Blind football is going to be here now in Guyana, and we are gunning to spread the sport in all ten regions across the country as best as we can, and we want to implore the youths in the blind community to get involved in blind sports. Give yourself the opportunity to become more independent; the opportunity to participate in a sport you previously thought was impossible, and see where it takes you.”

Whoever is interested in playing the sport or contributing financially can get in touch with Leroy or the GCOPD. “We’re really looking forward to a very youthful team. In two years’ time or even less, we hope to have the first ever blind regional football tournament. That will also be part of the drive to further spread the sport.”

BLIND VS CONVENTIONAL FOOTBALL
With balls that have bells inside, blind players are able to locate and track the ball. The sport is played with barricades around the field to keep the ball within the playing area. While conventional football is usually for 45 minutes for half of the game, blind football goes for 15 minutes for a half, with a 10-minute interval.

The games are usually not as crowded as conventional football. They start small, with teams of five, although other players are on hand to substitute if necessary. There are codes used in the game when it is ongoing to make it safer for players. “When you’re on the pitch and running, players say ‘voy’ to indicate they’re coming, and to avoid collision because people can collide really badly,” Leroy explained.

The keepers for the teams are sighted, and there is a guide assigned to each team to provide audio directions, especially when a player has the ball in his possession. “You’d have to develop your own codes in addition to those affiliated with the sport. You don’t want to speak in plain language, and then the other team members from the opposition hear and start crowding you,” Leroy further explained.

The game will also have to be played at a location that’s quiet. “You can have crowds, but they will have to be very disciplined, because there are signs that will be put up on the screens when to cheer and when not to. Cheering can only be done when a goal is scored. Otherwise, players need silence to listen for the various codes and directives given by their team members.”