For Australia’s blind footballers, the road to the Paris 2024 Paralympics began last weekend with the announcement of the launch of the National Para 5s Series (a five-a-side football tournament), and an exhibition match played between South Melbourne FC and Brisbane’s Olympic FC that was played in Melbourne.
As part of the preparations for the Paralympics in the French capital, Australian Blind Football in partnership with Paralympics Australia will bring together the blind players, for national training camps four times a year.
The largest of four clubs in the country with blind footballers, South Melbourne FC, launched its All-Abilities program in 2018 and has since grown to include blind and vision-impaired footballers.
“Our aim is to offer the most diverse and inclusive All Abilities Football program in Australia. Our program embraces footballers of any age, any gender, any culture and any ability. The announcement of the National Para 5s Series will enable our blind footballers to play for and represent South Melbourne on the national stage” said Bill Papastergiadis, the South Melbourne FC chairperson.
The South Melbourne squad trains regularly at the club’s Albert Park facilities under coach Ankit Singh’s guidance and with support of Australian Blind Football. Mr Papastergiadis said former NSL footballer Sebastian Petrovic who was Australia’s only internationally qualified blind football referee, regularly helped to mentor the club’s blind footballers.
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“We are able to utilise the (South Melbourne FC) club facilities and the experience of our coaching team to provide our blind footballers with a fantastic development opportunity. They train side-by-side with vision-impaired players on Sunday mornings preparing for the national training camps,” said Skip Fulton, Football Coordinator of the All Abilities Program.
”Our program is designed for everyone, however, and we welcome those who are looking for some exercise or something new to try. Together with Football Victoria and Blind Sports Victoria, we offer free introductory sessions bringing new participants to the game,” said Mr Fulton.
The exhibition match that was played over the weekend paved the way for the announcement of the National Para 5s series that will see South Melbourne, Olympic FC, Adelaide Comets and Perth SC teams competing in the series. The first match in the series will kick off in June with South Melbourne taking on Olympic FC.
“I am incredibly proud of the program we have put together and the opportunities it provides to so many members of our footballing community. We are building on sixty years of football heritage and it is exciting to see South Melbourne competing on the national stage in this form of the world game.” said South Melbourne FC President Nicholas Maikousis.
