BLIND FOOTBALL THE WORLD GAME IS THE GAME FOR EVERYONE brought him down to blind sports each Blind sports are di ffi cult in terms of and what to do with that. At the national week. “You are around people that are accessibility, Amir told me at length. camps I am lucky to get that sort of similar to you and lose that feeling of “So, I am thankful for the support I am treatment, however, I can’t always get being an outsider.” Ned also can’t wait given from the many organisations and that due to the limited access I have.” for the World Cup and summed it up as individuals.” “Thankfully football was “The best thing you can watch. It’s the close to home, so I was able to receive There are big goals up ahead for Amir world game with the best players much needed support to get to trainings.” with hopes to be able to represent coming together.” Australia at a world championship or Preparation for training and games is a Paralympics. Within blind football as Amir is categorised diff erently to Ned essential across all levels of football and a team they are hoping to get to India for due to his increased lack of vision. Amir Amir takes his fi tness seriously by going a tournament very soon. On a personal is part of the B1 division of blind football. to the local YMCA gym. “For me it is level, “I am hoping to raise more Similar to most people he got involved important all people are able to get awareness around blind sports and blind through the national team coordinator access to these types of things. I am football in the hope this gets more Dave Connolly and made the transition very lucky to have access to the gym.” funding.” Funding and support seemed from goalball to blind football. Most the time Amir is sent a program to be valued resource for Amir and his from a volunteer coach and going to the team. He explained, “For us and paying Blind football isn’t Amir’s only activity, gym in his free time. “In the gym if I have our own way is even harder because with two being done at a national level. a coach with me, they are able to coach many of us are unable to work due to His number 1 pursuit is that he is a part me through the movements.” Diet is the our disability.” He told me that In Australia of the Melbourne based running group other element he would like to improve, 58% of vision impaired people do not called Achilles Australia. The group of telling us he’s always working on it. “With have a job, so sports are a great way to volunteer and vision impaired runners run my diet it is about habit and creating good be active, meet people and have a every Sunday morning around the Tan in habits, similar to training on a daily basis.” positive impact on their lives, but this South Yarra. (www.achillesaustralia.org. is challenging without more support. au/). Amir also achieves highly in goalball, Speaking with Amir, you become alerted recently he represented Australia in to the essence of community support If you would like to get involved with blind Japan. To cap it off he is part of the within sport. The volunteer help that sports in any capacity, please head to the National Blind Football setup in the B1 is involved with grassroots sport, but Blind Sports Australia website (www. category. “With my vision loss, I’m totally also blind football stands out. Amir blindsportsaustralia.com.au/). blind, I can only see shadows really.” explained, “We are always looking for physios to help us in assessing our injuries Thinkstock/ThomasNorthcut 32 VOLUME 36 • JUNE ISSUE 2018