The football team of the Society for Rehabilitation of the Visually Challenged (SRVC), who finished runners-up in the 8th IBSA National Blind Football Championship at New Delhi, was given a warm reception at the Ernakulam South Railway Station on Tuesday.

The Kakkanad-based SRVC is the first team from south India to participate in the tournament, competing with seven teams in four matches before falling at the final hurdle. They lost by a solitary goal to defending champions EOC, Delhi University in the final of the event conducted by the Indian Blind Sports Association (IBSA) from May 13 to 18.
The officials and players of SRVC were elated, on a creditable performance in their very first national-level tournament.

“Ever since the inception of the idea, I tried contacting many people familiar with blind football and realized that it was possible to organise a team here at Kochi too. I had to go through the rules and regulations for the football team to make sure that we are moving forward in the right direction. An academy for these differently-abled people is my dream” said Sunil J Mathew, SRVC secretary and the team’s head coach.

Having faced many hardships during training and in the tournament, including injuries on account of the lack of sight, SRVC is aiming for a permanent playground for its practice sessions. They also plan to make use of radio for the propagation of blind football.

The month-long training at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Kadavanthra, under coaches Sunil and M V Rajan helped them to bag the runners-up trophy, the players said.
“We feel great to be a part of this blind football team as we could prove to the world that we are just like any other normal man. It provides an encouragement for all visually challenged people,” said Gireesh Keerthi, team manager.

Meanwhile, captain Renjith said: “This would not have happened without the unconditional support of Sunil sir and the dedicated hard work of my teammates. We are sure that we will emerge winners next time.”

SRVC had also conducted events like cricket and chess before, in addition to organizing an orchestra.

Source:Express News Service