As part of its work to empower blind people in the Chechen Republic to access mainstream opportunities, Islamic Relief has supported a football contest with a difference.
The tournament, which was held earlier this month in Grozny, saw four teams of blind amateur footballers competing on a pitch designed for the Paralympic Games.
“I never felt so excited,” said Ramzan Khadzhimuradov, 23, who played on a team representing Islamic Relief. “This football match means so much to me. Playing football is much better than sitting at home spending much time in bed or sitting aimlessly on the sofa. It’s so good to hear the voices of people around me, to feel the support of your team. Since I started to play football, my life has changed completely for the better.”
“I don’t see anything, but I can feel what is going around me,” said father-of-two Zaur Yakubov, 26, who lost his sight in an accident aged seven.
“What I felt today while playing football was the support of my team, and the warmth coming from the hearts of those people who provided blind people in Chechnya with the opportunity to play sports.”
Zaur’s wife, Zarina, agrees that playing sports has had a big impact on her husband, who was on the tournament’s winning team.
“Before he got involved in sports, he was depressed and nervous. After he started to play football, he changed. He smiles a lot, he plays with the children.”
The event was organised by the Chechen Sports-Adoptive School ‘Voice of the Mountains’ in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Chechen Republic and Islamic Relief Russia.
Each player received a football strip and sports bag from Islamic Relief, and competed for cups, medals and honorary certificates.
Breaking stereotypes and raising self-esteem
The Islamic Relief football team is supported by our project to enable blind people in Chechnya to build brighter futures, which is supported by Islamic Relief Mauritius and implemented through our partner, the Chechen Union for Visually Handicapped. The project provides access to sports and education, and also offers free Arabic language and Qur’anic study classes.
“Islamic Relief makes an invaluable input into the development of local institutions working with disabled people,” said Selima Salamova, Islamic Relief Russia’s Programme Manager.
“The tournament was a great opportunity for disabled people, who can feel isolated from society, to be active, break down stereotypes, and raise their self-esteem. It was wonderful to see players demonstrate their abilities and talents on the pitch.”
According to the Chechen Union of Visually Handicapped, there 3,000 people are officially registered as blind in Chechnya. Islamic Relief Russia also helps people with hearing impairments, including by offering sign-language and reading classes in remote Chechen communities.