Delhi Blind Football Orientation Camp - 10th & 11th March 17

IBFF ( Indian Blind Football Federation) conducted its first blind football demo game and awareness camp in New Delhi on 10th & 11th March ’17 at the The Football Link Futsal Ground, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. This is part of IBFF’s initiative in popularising Blind Football in India by conducting camps across the country so as to identify and develop talents at grass root levels. Besides several camps and tournaments conducted in Cochin which include an international championship held in Dec ’16, IBFF has held camps in Calcutta, Guwahati, Shillong, Tura, Imphal, Aizawl and Mumbai.

The event was attended by blind footballers from various schools and colleges. For the Delhi camp, Football Link was the Venue Partner & Delhi Dynamos FC, the Football Development Partner. The event involved a two days orientation and explanation of tactics conducted by Sunil J Mathew, sporting director IBFF and Coach of the Indian national blind football team. The aim of the camp was to raise awareness about sporting abilities of the differently abled and help build a blind football team in New Delhi. Football Link has offered to provide their ground for practice.

The final game had Mr.Venu Rajamony, Press Secretary to the President of India, Mr.Dipendra Manocha, Director NAB Delhi and Major General Dr.P.R.Venkitesh as spectators. The dignitaries gave away certificates to participants. While sharing his experience after the game, Mr.Rajamony remarked that it was the best football match he has ever witnessed. The Indian Blind Football Federation (IBFF) is promoted by Society for Rehabilitation of the Visually Challenged, Kochi, which is a registered NGO working with the visually impaired since 2002. IBFF, affiliated to the Paralympic Committee of India (Govt), is the organization recognised to develop the game in India. Blind Football is a 5-a-side game with 4 totally blind players and a sighted goalkeeper, played in a Futsal ground of size 40 M X 20 M with the long sides blocked with sideboards. The players are guided by the sound of the ball which has bells inside.

The Indian Blind Football team which is only 4 years old is currently ranked 23rd in the world. With more sponsors coming forward, the first Blind Football Academy will get operational at Kochi. Talents will be identified and brought on for a long term basis offering intensive training, fitness, tactical skills etc. Tata Trusts and West Communication are supporting this initiative on a long term basis.