In Syria, native Paralympic video games carry hope and pleasure to disabled athletes | Soccer

Idlib, Syria – Abdul Qader Youssef stands on the sidelines, leaning on his crutches and looking out nervously on the pitch. Then he heads in the direction of his teammates to encourage them earlier than kickoff of their first match of the competitors.

Youssef has been taking part in soccer since he was eight, however the 30-year-old solely misplaced his leg 10 years in the past.

“I’ve beloved soccer since I used to be a toddler and this love nonetheless flows by means of my veins,” he mentioned.

He used to play for al-Karamah – one among Asia’s oldest soccer golf equipment based mostly in Homs, Syria – till 2011’s Arab Spring.

President Bashar al-Assad’s authorities responded to protests by killing lots of of demonstrators and imprisoning many extra.

“With the beginning of the Syrian revolution, I ended taking part in soccer for practically 4 years,” he recalled.

Youssef and his household have been displaced to northern Syria in 2014 after practically two years of siege by al-Assad regime forces.

“A yr after our displacement, an Assad regime air strike hit Idlib … my proper leg was amputated,” Youssef mentioned.

Can’t hand over

“It was a shock [but] I couldn’t afford to surrender. Amputees endure society’s notion. Some mock us, others pity us.”

Youssef began on the lookout for work to assist his household, working as a barber and a taxi driver, however he by no means forgot his love for soccer.

In 2016, he teamed up with mates to type a soccer staff, Al Tahaddi (Defiance).

Youssef was lastly capable of return to the soccer pitch, an “indescribable feeling”, he mentioned, “particularly since we have been all amputees, it gave me hope”.

Al Tahaddi started taking part in in opposition to different groups in Idlib and Aleppo, unable to go to worldwide tournaments due to monetary and logistical issues.

Because the world’s main athletes lined up for the 2024 Paralympic Video games in Paris, Youssef and Al Tahaddi participated within the first native Paralympics, organised by Syrian NGO Violet.

Greater than 300 athletes marched within the opening ceremony on August 27 on the municipal stadium in Idlib.

“These 333 heroes – males, girls and kids – will compete throughout 5 venues in northwestern Syria,” Violet’s Ibrahim Sarmeni advised Al Jazeera.

The video games embrace karate, desk tennis, swimming, goalball, soccer, volleyball, chess, powerlifting and para-athletics.

“A big crowd attended the opening, reflecting the group’s perception in supporting conflict victims and other people with disabilities,” Sarmeni mentioned.

‘The start’

Of their first sport, Al Tahaddi have been up in opposition to high contender Al Ruwad, who had a powerful begin with objectives within the third and twelfth minutes.

Al-Ruwad maintained their 2-0 lead till the twenty fifth minute when Youssef dribbled previous two gamers and handed to his teammate, who slotted it house.

At half-time, Youssef lamented his staff’s gradual begin however was hopeful they’d make a comeback within the second half.

However because the second half started, Al Tahaddi collapsed, conceding two extra objectives within the first 10 minutes.

Whereas they managed yet one more purpose, the match ended with a 5-2 win for Al Ruwad and Al Tahaddi have been eradicated.

Youssef was disillusioned however hasn’t misplaced all hope.

“This championship will function the start for Al Tahaddi.”