Amidst their glaring disabilities, polio victims exuded tons of abilities via a game developed by one of their kind, writes Adewole Ajao
The crowd within the indoor sports hall of the Akoka-based University of Lagos erupts in a cheer as the one-legged goalkeeper makes his first save from the team dressed in yellow sportswear.
Seated on skateboards, the team called Avengers retreat but soon commenced another round of slick passing that makes a mess of the up-and-over tactics utilised by their opponents from Kwara who are dressed in green attire, are still bickering over a mistake that almost led to a goal when their goalkeeper tossed the ball into space for the resumption of hostilities.
The only able-bodied people on the wooden floor are the referee, his assistants and the audience brimming with faces like Promasidor boss Keith Richards, tourney progenitor Theo Lawson and Yeni Kuti who comes with her own team NAS Warriors.
The ball lands in the path of the Kwara captain, who catches it with his hand and rolls it deftly to a teammate before taking off in the direction of the opposing team’s goalpost via a burst of speed.
His progress is halted by an Avengers team member, who clatters into his skateboard. This leaves both men in a colourful heap as the referee blows for the first foul of the day. Such are the scenes from the third edition of the Para-soccer tourney, which is a highlight of the year for polio victims.
Similar to football in rules and regulations, the only queer parts to this game for the disabled are the use of hands particular to the goalkeeper and players. The head is also used as the founder intimates me on how it all started in 1988 as a substitute for disabled lovers of football.
“Initially we used to crawl on the bare floor when I was younger. But the idea of using skates came up when one of us went to Mecca. I saw it was faster so we adopted that idea and you see all of them using roller skates.
It makes it faster and entertaining,” explained Abuja-based Musubau Lawandidi. This engaging trait is not in doubt as the first goal in the seven-a-side game comes after ten minutes. Avengers take the lead following a jaded display from the Kwara team. The Kwara goalkeeper takes it personal as his opposing number has had nothing to do all day.
He is just another spectator as his captain slices through the Kwara defence like a hot knife through butter. Recalling his days as a player, Lawandidi added that the name of the game has changed thrice to accommodate the numerous hurdles it had to surmount before evolving into a medal-scoring event at national level.
This has also seen the bulky fellow assuming different roles in his bid to give the sport international recognition. “I played for ten years but have now resigned because I have gotten to a level where I am a judge I was the first president of the sport and I willingly wrote a letter to the National Sports
After that we now came up with the rules, regulations and so many guidelines for the game to thrive. For every new idea, challenges must be attached to it but we thank God we have been able to overcome the challenges. Today, we are at celebration level having surpassed all the levels we had been hoping to surmount.
A good number of athletes are already participating and as the founder, it is one of my ambitions that are a source of income to my fellow disabled colleagues.”
The first yellow card for the day crystallises as an Avengers player is booked for crashing into an opponent. A few words are exchanged in Hausa as they shake hands and resume the game.
This has been the dominant language in the 25 minutes that make up a first half that ends with the Kwara a goal ahead.“It is a business but also a way of ensuring that polio victims are engaged in good things,” the founder explains.
“I am also a Hausa man and the issue is that young people in the North with disabilities are out earlier than their counterparts in the South, and for one reason or another they come to the zones in Lagos, Ibadan and Enugu.
A great percentage of players are not even Nigerians. It is just the allure of the game that has brought them here so we build them up so they can be our ambassadors when they return to their countries. Even the first goalkeeper in our history was from Niger Republic so there is no bias whatsoever.”
The second half kicks off after a five-minute break and things are going to plan for Kwara until Avengers score another goal that leaves the opposing keeper rooted to the spot.
The desperate defending has not worked and a member of the Kwara team leaves the game after signalling his inability to continue. “If you are not fit, you cannot do this because it entails stomach training and others that increase cardiovascular efficiency,” adds Adeogun Sunday Oladipo.
The NIS (National Institute of Sports) instructor and technical director of the para-soccer federation is also at the tourney with his team, and offer comments that betray his odd preferences.
“It is even more interesting than football because they display more happiness because of the recognition.”This is hard to accept but there are no arguments when Kwara finally pull one back through their number nine player sporting an elbow band.
The game is nearing its finale and the urgency increases as the one-eyed fellow makes several failed attempts at beating the offside trap. Someone remarks that his lack of vision is what makes him oblivious of the defenders movements.After several substitutions, the whistle signals an end to 50 minutes of two halves. Others waiting their turn are Lead United, TC Terrors, NAS Warriors, Baba Mai Mangoro and others from Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states.
Besides the competitive streak akin to the game, weird hairstyles are also noticeable as some players rekindle the fashion styles akin to their football stars. According to Promasidor managing director Keith Richards who also viewed the event, this and the need to relate with a marginalised segment of society were reasons why they were being supported by his company.
“It is a very skilful sport and we felt it would be a wonderful programme to associate with. This is the third year we have sponsored and I enjoy the sport. It is exciting, physical and challenging with some degree of skill required. You can see lots of association with soccer.
There is the skilful play, use of space and defending. Some are even trying to play the up and over game.”There are no plans for a league even though it has crossed the minds of the organisers. But with an unending pool of seasonal players and sponsors, the sport might gain prominence and surpass Lawandidi’s dreams.
“Our vision is for it to be an international sport. Without that our players
will not be professional and Nigeria has the upper hand when it comes to this
game because we have abundant players,” the founder added.
Source : www.thisdayonline.com
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