Blind Football ‘finds’ foothold in Nagaland

Students of visually impaired training during Nagaland Blind Football Demo/training camp at Don Bosco Hr Sec School Ground on February 15. (Morung Photo by Soreishim Mahong)

 

A two-day Blind Football demo/training camp underway at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Ground, Dimapur

 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 15

In a leap forward to tap the sporting talents of the visually impaired athletes, blind football has been introduced for the first time in the state of Nagaland.

The Office of State Disability Commissioner and organising partners, Nagaland State Disability Forum (NSDF) and Prodigals’ Home in collaboration with the Indian Blind Football Federation (IBFF), is conducting a two-day Blind Football demo/training camp here at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Ground.

Addressing the inaugural event of the demo/training camp on Saturday morning, State commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Diethono Nakhro, said para-sports or disability sports, like everything else in the disability sector, has been neglected, never taken up or promoted in Nagaland state.

“Some individuals on their own, through their own efforts, have pursued their dreams and earned laurels for themselves and for the state, but there has been no support for them and we have barely heard about them”, the state commissioner for PWDs said.

Diethono said there has been nothing in the state’s sports set up so far for young people with disabilities interested in sports, and no effort whatsoever to promote paralympic sports. “The good news is that discussions are on and steps are being taken to set up a Nagaland Paralympic Association, which will be fully focused on building up the various paralympic disciplines, thereby opening up opportunities for our young athletes with disabilities. We’re looking forward to working closely with the Nagaland Olympic Association and other sports association on this”, she said.

Diethono further conveyed gratitude to the IBFF for “coming and working with us as we look to create more awareness, promote the game and build our state team.”   

Sporting director, IBFF, Sunil J Mathew said presently blind football is played in 64 countries around the world and that IBBF has made inroads into 23 states in the country. He, however, admitted that with the record number of blind people in India, “we have not even touched the tip of the iceberg.” Matthew urged the coaches and referees to dedicate their time towards the visually impaired athletes so that they can compete in national and international levels.

IBFF is an independent body affiliated with the Paralympic Committee of India and the India Blind Sports Association, New Delhi, and AIFF, New Delhi. It runs the only full-time Blind Football Academy at Kochi, Kerala.

Earlier, general secretary, NSDF, Ashe H Kiba, delivered welcome address. After the inaugural programme, vice president, Nagaland Football Association, Colo Mero, kicked off the blind football training and basic skills session for coaches, referees, goalkeepers and players.

Besides Mathew, Gabriel, an established Indian international blind player from Bengaluru also came to help train the players and to play in the demo exhibition game.

On Sunday afternoon, Deputy Commissioner Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi, will kick off the blind football demo game.