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Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporters
PLAYING football on crutches?
Who would have thought that one day the disabled would have their day on the field of play? It is now happening here in Zimbabwe.
Amputee Football has brought hope to many of the people with physical disabilities resulting mainly from amputations caused by different factors such as diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy and trauma from serious accidents.
Several gatherings have been held in Harare to lay the ground for the sport in the country. Amputee Football in Zimbabwe is the brainchild of Robson Mcleigh Musarafu, who is the founder and president of Ruwa George Al-Quds Amputee FC.
Amputee football in Zimbabwe has been endorsed by the Confederation of African Amputee Football. Zimbabwe have also been invited to the next World Amputee Football Federation Congress to be held on April 29, where they hope to be confirmed WAFF full member.
Zimbabwe becomes the 12th country in Africa and 51st in the world to introduce the sport for the disabled.
“After realising that there is this type of football for people living with disabilities, our differently abled citizens, we formed Ruwa George Al-Quds Amputee FC to introduce amputee football in Zimbabwe for the first time and develop it throughout our provinces and districts.
“This is a huge success and is the best thing we have done in my life so far.
“Our objectives are to encourage the formation of amputee football clubs all over the country, form the Zimbabwe Amputee Premier Soccer League and the Zimbabwe Amputee Football Federation as the governing body, and participate in local and international tournaments,” said Musarafu.
The Ruwa George Al-Quds Amputee FC was formed in 2019 to play amputee football but immediately succumbed to Covid-19 Shutdown.
After the restrictions were lifted, they resumed operations but again slowly.
“The club is basically going national because it is the first in the country to introduce amputee football, hence welcoming players from all over Zimbabwe. “Secondly, the population of amputees is not the big in any one region or province hence there can’t be enough amputees in Ruwa alone to make complete teams. We are a professional club and we will have members from all over the country.
“The club is making arrangements to convene another gathering and is urging all interested amputees to come to Chizhanje ground in Mabvuku.
“The first gathering of the club was in February 2020, where 13 amputees from within 7km radius of Ruwa centre attended the meeting. Only one came from Epworth and another from Chinhoyi. “The club is working fast to get local certification to build teams for international representation.
“The statutes of the governing body, the World Amputee Football Federation, Section 4:19, allows a club to become a member of WAFF until there is a national association,” said Musarafu. Amputee football is a disabled sport played with seven players on each team — six outfield players and one goalkeeper.
Outfield players have lower extremity amputations, and goalkeepers have an upper extremity amputation. Outfield players use loft strand (forearm) crutches, and play without their prosthesis.
Players may not use crutches to advance, control or block the ball. Such an action will be penalised in the same way as a handball infringement. However, incidental contact between crutch and ball is tolerated.
Use of a crutch against a player will lead to ejection from the game and a penalty kick for the opposing team.
Musarafu urged the Government, through the Sports Ministry, Sports Commission, local councils, private corporates and individuals to provide and dedicate specialist amputee football grounds and equipment. Amputee football grounds are smaller in size than FIFA standard grounds.
They need specialist equipment such as metal crutches for players, club kits, soccer boots and balls, transport facilities, shin guards, medical facilities, bibs and financial incentives for players and management.
The long-term dream is to participate at the Amputee Football World Cup, which is a world championship in amputee football.
It was inaugurated in 1984 and was known as the Amputee Football World Championships until 2003.
It is organised by WAFF and was first held in Seattle, USA, in 1984. Türkiye are the current champions after beating Angola in the 2022 final.
Russia are the most successful team in the history of the world championship with five gold medals and as many silvers, followed by Brazil.
Recently FIFA president Gianni Infantino pledged more support for Amputee football, which is on the rise across the globe. Amputee Football, which is a version of football invented in 1982 by Don Bennett, is played throughout the world by all people at local, national and international levels.
“The main goal is to provide all amputees, people with congenital limb deficiencies and persons with restricted use of limbs, with the opportunity to play football locally, nationally and internationally.
“Although WAFF is an affiliate of FIFA, and FIFA banned Zimbabwe from international football, the international football body does not oversee amputee football directly as it does with ZIFA and all its other member associations. So, Zimbabwe will maintain her presence on the international football arena despite the ZIFA ban,” said Musarafu.
Online Reporter