Column – In adapting football, Brazil is also a powerhouse among amputees

Football is for everyone!

As the most popular sport in the world, football has naturally adopted different adaptations for people with disabilities to play. The versions for the blind (ex-futsal) and cerebral palsy (ex-7, who are saying goodbye to the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016) are the best known to the Brazilian public for competing in the Paralympic and Paralympic Games. -American. There is also power football, in a wheelchair, one of the candidate sports to debut at the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles (USA) in 2028.

Outside of the Paralympic attractions (so far), there are footballs for amputees. The sport emerged in the 80s and held its first international championship in Seattle (USA) 38 years ago. There were 7 players on each side with amputations or deformities at the bottom (six lines) or above (goalkeepers who could not leave the area). The game is divided into two halves of 25 minutes. The field is 60 meters wide by 40 meters, the goal is 2 meters high and 5 meters wide.

According to the World Amputee Football Federation (WAFF), the sport is currently practiced in 50 countries, six of which are in South America. In Brazil, it arrived in Niteróis (RJ) in 1986 and the first team was formed in the Association Niterense for Physically Disabled (Andef). Three years later, the country made its World Cup debut, finishing third.

Brazil has become a world power in football for amputees

It didn't take long for Brazil to become a powerhouse, winning four world championships in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005. Rogério Rodríguez de Almeida, 40, is also considered the world's top scorer. As we all know, Rogerinho was born without his left leg because of its malformation. By their own account, during their 21-year career, most of which represented the Brazilian national team, São Paulo players scored more than 580 goals.

“Thanks to God and my family, I also gained popularity in Brazil and abroad. Ever since I discovered the sport, I fell in love with it and started embracing it with professionalism, dedication and hard work. I also thank my teammates and without them none of this would be possible”, Corinthians striker/captain Mogi, from Moguidas Cruz (SP), told AFP.

“When I'm on the field, I forget all the problems. It's the best time. It's very rewarding to play football and do what I love. I've had the opportunity to see some children have [amputations]. football program, ahead of Mogi das Cruzes], they admired me today. I received their message and they saw me as a reference”, added the player, who will face the ball from Ourinhos in the final of the Campeonato Paulista. , this Saturday (6).

After all, does football for amputees receive any funding?

As it is not a Paralympic sport, football for amputees does not receive resources from the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB), and athletes are not eligible for federal athletics scholarships. The popularity also ended up being different from other adaptation movements, making it difficult to obtain sponsorship. The feasibility of Brazil's participation in this year's World Cup in Istanbul (Turkey) from September 30th to October 9th, had support (tickets and logistics of sporting equipment) from the Brazilian Committee of Paralympic Clubs (CBCP).

“To hold the tournament, we work with the sports department and they give us the structure to hold the event. Today, [we, players] don't make a living from sport. I have some sponsorships that help me, I've been in private. The company is over 20 years old and I fully support the sport”, describes Rogerinho.

“Our dream is to participate in the Paralympic program. At the same time, FIFA is working with UEFA [European Football Union] to pursue a partnership with FIFA [International Football Federation]. We are organizing ourselves to meet the demands of the Paralympic Games. .IPC [International Paralympic Committee]”, explained Ademir Cruz, president of the Board of Directors of the Brazilian Federation of Sports for the Disabled (ABDF).

This modality has become a national phenomenon.

The national schedule currently includes state and regional championships, the Campeonato Brasileiro and the Copa do Brasil – the latter will be played in Orinhos next month with 12 participating teams. According to Cruz, the country has around 600 active athletes participating in the sport.

“Today we have teams in several regions of Brazil, such as Amapá, Tocantins, Pará, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Goiás, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Matogue do Sul Rosso and Paraná. We can say that the majority are in Bahia and São Paulo”, said the ABDF leader.

After the Brazil Cup, attention will turn to the Istanbul World Cup. Brazil is in Group D with Ireland, Iran and Morocco. The two best teams from the six groups and the four best third-placed teams advance to the round of 2018. The hosts, the current runners-up, lead Group A along with Haiti, France and Liberia. The winner of the last competition was in Mexico in XNUMX, with Angola in Group F with Italy, Uruguay and Iraq.

The call was made on July 12th. Of the 15 players called up by coach Rodrigo Oliveira, 9 won in the South American qualifiers to play in Barranquilla (Colombia) in March – Rogerinho One of the players not in the World Cup squad. The team will meet at the Paralympic Training Center, in São Paulo, from September 19th to 27th.

“Today, in Brazil, due to the quantity and quality of players, it is possible to have three or more competitive teams. Unfortunately, for the World Cup we are limited to 12 players and three goalkeepers.] evolution of world sport. In our group, I think Ireland will be a direct opponent. Our team is qualified. Technically, everyone is very good and I believe that Brazil will be among the top four, if not champion”, designed by Cruz.