By Baraka John
South Sudan’s blind football team is one step closer to the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles after two historic wins in their first international matches.
The Bright Stars defeated hosts Uganda 3-0 in the opening match of the Blind Football African Championship Division 2 at Hamz Stadium, Kampala, yesterday.
Two fierce strikes from forward Yona Sabri and a fine solo effort from captain Martin Ladu secured the impressive victory.
Sabri added two more goals in a 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe in the evening’s match, putting him on course to finish as the tournament’s top scorer.
The two victories mean South Sudan is guaranteed to finish in the top two, securing qualification for next year’s Blind Football African Championship Division 1. From Division 1, Africa’s top teams will earn a place at the 2028 Paralympics.
South Sudan has a chance to win the tournament and take home the trophy when they play Uganda or Zimbabwe in the final tomorrow (Wednesday).
Simon Madol, Head Coach of the South Sudan team and the driving force behind introducing the sport to the country, said: “We still have one more match. We cannot celebrate now. We have been waking up early to train and get in the mood for the matches.
“Our message for the people back home is this is a team comprised of many different tribes of South Sudan, and they are playing on the same team. Simon Madol stated. Sport is a way to bring people together. We are all from different parts of South Sudan, but in this team we are like brothers — a family. He added, “Thanks to all our supporters, playing sport is a right our players can exercise. My message to everyone at home is to embrace inclusive sport and embrace each other.”
In blind football, each team has five players: four outfield players and a goalkeeper. The four outfield players must be classified as blind, while goalkeepers may be sighted or partially sighted. Outfield players wear an eye covering, as some people who are blind can see different levels of light.
The ball has sewn-in rattles or bells, so it makes noise while moving, and players can track it. Assistants may also bang on the goalposts when players are near to goal, advising them where to aim their shots.
Matches are 40 minutes long, played in two 20-minute halves, and players shout “voy” (“I’m coming” in Spanish) when making a tackle to warn opponents and minimise injuries.
The sport debuted at the Paralympics in 2004. France is the reigning Paralympic champion.
The current Blind Football African Championship Division 2 is the first time there has been a second tier on the continent, reflecting the growing popularity of blind football and inclusive sports. While six teams were originally expected, the tournament is taking place with three: South Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
In South Sudan, blind football started in 2020 with just two players and a dream of forming a league. Today, there are more than 40 active blind football players and a South Sudan Blind Football Premier League that is challenging stereotypes about disability and is set to expand across the country.
The team’s participation is led by the South Sudan Association of the Visually Impaired (SSAVI) in partnership with Light for the World and the adidas Foundation as part of the United by Sport programme.