IN SUMMARY:
Amputee football players from Cameroon are likely to miss out on its very first international debut match due to insufficient funds.
The amputee tournament is set to take place on September 30th to October 14th in Angola.
Kenya to take part in the National Amputee Football Tournament in Angola.
The Cameroon National Amputee players are a worried lot right now following the fact that they might miss out their very first international tournament over lack of funds.
According to one of the organizers, who is an amputee player and the founder of a Non- Governmental Organization “Think Big” the team has excelled following ardent support from the SEEPD program.
The Cameroonian players have since launched an appeal for financial aid from well-wishers and organizations to bail them out of this quagmire and help them pursue their dreams and achieve their goals.
They play for both the National Amputee Football Team and the World Amputee Football Federation.
CANAF, the fifth Cup of African Nations for Amputee Football will involve teams from the following nations: Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Liberia, Togo, Cameroon and the hosts, Angola.
AMPUTEE TEAM
Unlike a normal non-amputee team which comprises of eleven players, an amputee team is made up of seven players.
Seven amputee players compete on either side that is a goalkeeper and six other players.
NUMEROUS CHALLENGES
The Amputee Football Team for Cameroon was formed last year in March.
It is, therefore, a young team that needs back up and international participation if it has to get command the attention of the World Football Federation.
It, however, has no money to fund its flights to Angola and is thus likely to miss out a great opportunity to represent the country.
Besides, the team has no stadium or equipment. It has got only three balls.
For the team, making it to the international scene is a big deal that they will always brag about.
It is more than just a mere game for it means exercising the rights of people with disabilities.
The United Nations (UN) has promoted their rights through its sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the “leave no one behind” agenda.
The United Nations aims to ensure that people with challenges are not discriminated against.
Last year, Angola scooped the 2018 Amputee World Cup which took place in Mexico.
LEFT BEHIND
Despite the concerted efforts made by the players, many African countries struggle to fund amputee teams.
Nigeria’s team, for instance, was obliged to engage in crowdfunding last year to take part in the world cup.
The team had been shut out of the event for three years-in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
Amid all these glaring challenges, the team is still optimistic since it is still going on with its training.
