December 20, 2019
LE FIVE supports blind-football teams !
On 16 February, we had the pleasure of hosting the Saint Mandé blind-football club for a few morning matches at LE FIVE in Bezons.
Yvan Wouandji is one of the stars of the sport and a member of the French national squad. He won a silver medal at the 2012 Paralympics in London and regularly trains at LE FIVE with his team. And he's always ready to bring in new blood: "Blind football is five-a-side. Only the goalkeeper can see and the other four players on each team wear a blindfold, because the game is open to both fully and partially blind people."
Blind football is a variation of football created in Brazil in the 1980s. But even though the French team is about to compete in the European Blind Football Championships in Rome on Monday 16 September, in a bid to secure one of two qualifying spots for the Tokyo Olympics next summer, the sport is still struggling to gain a following in France.
The game demands technical skills and a lot of close control, with players aiming never to let the ball stray from their feet, unlike their counterparts in a conventional match.
Sound and silence are key. The ball contains small bells to help players locate it. Communication is the other crucial component, so players can find their team mates on the pitch, allowing the person with the ball to "know where their opponents are and avoid them", says Yvan.
LE FIVE is proud to support blind-football players and empower everyone to play the sport. Get in touch if you'd like to give it a go !
