Football beyond physical limits a sight to behold, amputee players inspire at Thirsty bootfest

CEBU, Philippines —  Buoyed by their ardent desire to inspire the community of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), the members of the Cebu-based Philippine Accessible Disability Services (PADS)-Amputee Soccer Philippines gamely strut their wares against an abled team in a goodwill encounter that kicked off the 16th Thirsty Football Cup at the Cebu City Sports Center last Friday.

The first day of Cebu’s grandest football festival was highlighted by a unique 15-minute exhibition match between the amputee booters of PADS and the Velez College squad. The PADS side emerged victorious, 2-0.

The sight of the amputees going up against abled players was something new to the eyes of close to a thousand spectators that day, a scene that the PADS-Amputee Soccer would like to change gradually as they introduce amputee football to Cebuanos.

Football with a mission

The Thirsty Cup organizers opened the league to the group to provide them a venue where they can showcase not just their skills but also introduce their program to their fellow PWDs.

“Dinhi sa Cebu, daghan ta og mga amputees nga very enthusiastic ug nagpakita’g interest to play football,” said Paralympian Arnold Balais, a member of PADS-Amputee Soccer Phl. “And we are very happy because the organizers gave us the opportunity nga matagaan pud og spot ang mga PWDs to showcase their talents.

“I think it’s high time napud to introduce this kind of sport to all Cebuanos and we are very happy that we get to do this sa Thirsty Football Cup kay dako kaayo ni nga event. We really took the opportunity nga gihatag sa Thirsty, ni sir (John) Pages because it is a good start to showcase our project to everyone.”

The amputee football is the latest adaptive sports program of PADS in partnership with the Velez College Community Extension Services Program led by Tynee Ruedas.

In search of members

PADS aims to assemble Phl’s first all-amputee football team that would eventually represent the country in various international tournaments.

“We are thankful to Thirsty for giving us this opportunity to advertise the Amputee Soccer Philippines kay karon nanginahanglan g’yud mi og mga amputee players aron mahimo mi nga usa ka team diri sa Cebu,” said Eunice Cuestas, the team’s female goal keeper.

“Among aim is mahimo ni siya nga usa ka national team nga mo-compete internationally that would bring honor not just to the country but also to Cebu since we are the pioneers of this program. Hopefully we could represent Philippines in the World Cup for Amputee in 2020, mao nga nag-awhag mi sa tanang amputee to join us,” added Cuestas.

The group is currently looking for members to beef up their nine-man team. Joining Balais and Cuestas in the squad are Kent Tumangan, Brylle Samgel Arombo, Jheffrey Dael, Nestor Bulan, Jr., Joey Maglasang, Owen Loceño and Daisy Jane Omega.

Apart from Cuestas, the rest of the members are also part of the award-winning PADS Adaptive Dragon Boat Racing Team.

Challenge in the Sport

Coach Noe Lao III said they have to acquire and come up with techniques that suits his players.

“Ang training namo is dili masayon-sayon. Nangita ta og mga techniques nga mas haom nila aron mas dali sa ilaha ang pagduwa og football because most of them are not football players. Kasagaran nila gikan sa dragon boat. Kung managhan na among players, we will separate the boys and the girls aron ma focus gyud sila,” he said.

For Balais, you need to learn the basic.

“Dapat maanad ka sa crutches kay ang skills ma-train ug ma-develop man na apan ang pinaka-basic gyud ani is dapat ma-anad kag gamit sa crutch. Kung paspas naka mogamit og crutches, mas dali nalang ang football,” said Balais.

Cuestas, for her part, said the key to easily learn the sport is to believe in your self.

“Lisod siya tan-awon sa mga tawo apan kung mismo ang player na ang makaduwa, mura’g abled raman gihapon ang feeling. Ang challenge lang gyud ani kay bag-o man gud ni sa ila nga sport, dili pa siya known kaayo diri sa atong nasud especially diri sa Cebu,” said Cuestas.

“Daghan man ang manuwa sa abled apan kung sa amputees man gud, magpanagana pa ang uban. People will ask nga unsaon man nila pagduwa nga usa ray tiil, usa ra ang kamot, ang keeper usa ra ang kamot. Though lisud siya huna-hunaon apan makaya ra gyud siya og mabuhat ra gyud siya.”

More than just a Sport

The Barili-native Cuestas, who’s been playing the sport for more than a decade as a member of an abled all-female team, encourages all PWDs to come out and turn their disability to a great ability.

“I have been playing this sport for 14 years, competing against abled bodies. This experience is also new to me but along the way akoang na discover nga daghan gyud kaayo og opportunities para namo. Mao nga ayaw mo kauwaw, ayaw mo og tago, gawas mo sa inyong hole ug salig lang sa Ginoo. Dili kay amputee ta dili nata kabuhat ani nga mga butang. Makabuhat pa ta og daghan busa ayaw mo kahadlok,” said Cuestas.

“I found my passion in this sport kay nakita nako nga maayo ko ani ug dinhi ko nalipay. Kamo kung unsa inyong way to cope with your sadness nga nganong naing-ana mo, let’s use sport as a way aron makabuild ta’g something purposeful nga makahatag pud og inspiration sa mga tawo nga parehas nato’g naagian.”

Cuestas hopes that they could recruit more players as they plan to create an all-women amputee team.

“We look forward to create an all-female team that’s why we are looking for more female players. Naa nata mga babayeng recruits outside Cebu nga nagsugod napud sa ilahang training aside sa two female members nato diri sa Cebu. They are from Leyte, Davao, Bacolod and Manila.”

Meanwhile, Balais said they will continue to practice to become more competitive in the sport.

“We want to become a competitive amputee soccer team because we are already behind. In order to attain this, we need to focus on building and strengthening our local team and hopefully ma-invite nami to compete abroad. We will continue to practice and strive hard,” Balais said. “We invite all PWDs to come out and try different sports kay daghang gi-offer nga opportunities ang PADS for them.”