Juba, South Sudan – (African Boulevard News) – Juba Boys FC, a team that started in 2020, is now participating in the country’s first-ever blind football league, offering new hope to visually impaired individuals in South Sudan.
Blind football, also known as Para-soccer, is a modified version of football for individuals with visual impairment. The game is played with a soccer ball equipped with a sound-emitting device, allowing the players to hear its movement on the field.
The Juba Boys FC is one of four teams that participated in the inaugural blind football league, which kicked off on May 15. The league was organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in collaboration with the South Sudan Football Association for people with disabilities.
According to the ICRC, the league aims to promote social inclusion and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in South Sudan, a country that faces significant economic and social challenges.
“The league shows that disability is not inability, and persons with disabilities can participate in sports like others,” said Brian Kenneth, ICRC’s physical rehabilitation program manager in South Sudan. “We hope that through the blind football league, persons with disabilities can develop their skills, be visible, and contribute positively to their communities.”
Besides offering a new source of hope to visually impaired individuals, blind football is also an opportunity to showcase South Sudan’s football talent, said Anthony John Luga, the president of the South Sudan Football Association for people with disabilities.
“Blind football offers a platform for the talented players to demonstrate their skills and talents, and it will also enable us to identify talents to represent South Sudan at the regional or international level,” Luga said.
The Juba Boys FC’s coach, John Lado, said that this is a dream come true for many of his players who have faced significant challenges due to their visual impairment.
“My players are excited to participate in the league, and they are grateful for the opportunity to showcase their talents,” Lado said. “It has been a challenging journey to get here, but we are hopeful that our participation in the league will inspire other visually impaired individuals to pursue their dreams.”
Blind football offers a new ray of hope to South Sudan’s visually impaired individuals, promoting equal opportunities and social inclusion. The league is also an opportunity to demonstrate the country’s football talent and inspire individuals to pursue their dreams.
