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Nkosilathi Sibanda
CHILDREN living with autism in Zimbabwe are set to be given a rare treat of a sporting extravaganza through a soccer tournament slated for later in the year.
A first of its kind in the country, the competition that will be staged in Harare and Bulawayo aims to use the world’s beautiful game to unlock talent among children often looked down upon in society.
Autism is a condition one is born with, best defined as a developmental disorder of variable severity that is characterised by difficulty in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behaviour.
Locally, while the condition is known, stigma remains the biggest stumbling block to children living with the condition to realise their enthusiasm and talent in sport.
The inaugural soccer tourney will start in Harare where nine teams will battle for honours. Among the participating teams are Plymouth Academy, Red carpet, Golden Stars, Harmony Saints, Chiremba, Liverpool Stars, Epworth Athletic and Epworth Pirates.
The series of tournaments is organised by a group of like-minded individuals eager to support children with autism who are based in Zimbabwe and the Diaspora.
Started by UK-based Allen Lewis, through the Action for Autism Foundation, the soccer tournaments are a pioneering scheme to encourage children, families and adults living with autism to enjoy sport.
Spokesperson of the organisers, Alfred Karakadzai told this publication that the series of tournaments would also be rolled out to other provinces.
“This is a tournament organised for children living with autism. It is more of a social integration, where we want to use soccer as a vehicle to reach out to these kids and also break the stigma attached to autism.
“The first competition is set for Epworth in Harare. It is new and we are starting it in a few months’ time. We are looking forward to nine teams of players of ages between 12 and 13-year-olds,” he said.
In an emailed response, Lewis said sport was a unifier and influencer in the awareness of autism issues.
“We are thrilled that it is happening in Zimbabwe. This will help educate society on autism by staging these tournaments. My wife and I started this long back in the United Kingdom when my son Paul was diagnosed with severe autism and we thought if we spread it around the world, it would effect change,” said Lewis.
Karakadzai added the partnership they had with Lewis would go a long way as they push the drive to use sport to fight autism in Zimbabwe.
“Allen Lewis and others are gentlemen who have been hosting the same tournaments yearly in UK at Plymouth County. This time we are lucky to have partnered with their academy. They felt like introducing it to us here in Zimbabwe. It is a voluntary charity trophy,” he said.
Karakadzai said after Harare, they would stage a similar tournament in Bulawayo.
“After we have the Harare event, we will come to other centres, in particular Bulawayo so that we reach as many kids in communities. Sport will change the way we interact with children living with autism.”
In a testimony covered by international media in 2017, Robert Gagno a world champion in the game of pinball revealed that having autism had made him a better player.
Athletes who live with autism at times make it to competitions such as the Special Olympics.
Online Reporter