Juba, South Sudan – Sprinting to the far end of the pitch, 22-year-old Yona Sabri Ellon shouts to a teammate to pass the ball. The ball is intercepted by an opponent, and a scramble ensues. At the sound of the whistle, the players pause – it’s a foul. It is Ellon’s turn to throw in, resuming the game.
But this is no ordinary game of football: the players all bear heavy visual impairments to the point of blindness. They are members of the Premier Blind Football League in Juba, South Sudan.
Simon Madol (centre), technical director of the Blind Football League from Light for the World, with his players after practice [Kang-Chun Cheng/Al Jazeera]It’s a bright day, and the manicured astroturf at Dr Biar Sports Complex, where blind football practice is held, seems to reflect more heat than anywhere else. After warming up – some jumping jacks, push-ups, and leg lifts – most of the players’ jerseys are already soaked with sweat.
Twenty-seven-year-old Simon Madol is the coach and technical director of the Blind Football League. This is just one part of his role as a disability inclusion facilitator for Light for the World, a global nonprofit advocating for disability rights.
The captain of one of the teams in the Blind Football League and a teammate [Kang-Chun Cheng/Al Jazeera]Accompanied by two colleagues from Light for the World, they help the 15 players through their exercises. There’s a lot of touch to replace the lack of vision and a heightened sense of comradeship among the players as a result. Not only do they belong to the same team, they understand the challenges that come with being blind.
“I know we haven’t played in a while, but you’re all looking very good today,” Madol tells his team after a few drills – problems with funding had halted regular blind football practices for a few months in 2024. “It’s like no time has passed!”
