Despite their disabilities, members of the Amputee national football team have admitted that their romance with football has given them hope just as they are aiming to make Nigeria proud at the 2018 Amputee Football World Cup taking place in Mexico from October 24 to November 5.
According to the trio of Goodluck Obieze, Emmanuel Uche and Agu Blessing Otutu, lives have taken a turn
for the better since they started playing football.
The amputee trio also lauded the support the team got from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in their quest to be part of the Amputee World Cup in Mexico later this month.
The trio spoke with Brila FM yesterday in Lagos that they are looking forward to be part of the global championship in the South American nation.
An excited Obieze said: “I have never played abroad still people usually ask me if I was a Nigerian because of the way I behaved in the society through the training I engage myself at the National Stadium. The Amputee Football has contributed a lot to my entire Life, I got my Wife when I joined the association now we have four children together. I now fend for myself through this game and I am happy with it.”
Also speaking, captain of the team, Uche said that “Actually the game has affected my life totally, it has helped me so much because when I had accident I had only one leg and I thought that all is gone for me.”
According to the goalkeeper of the team, Agu Blessing Otutu, “When I was playing football in secondary school I had two legs but along the line I had accident still I never gave up, I was even a Table Tennis Player I was number 3 in Africa in my category, so the Amputee Football Federation has done great in my life which I am very grateful.”
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Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, Kenya and Liberia are the countries representing Africa in the 24 countries
competition.
The Nigeria amputee team which has been supported by the NFF with the sum of N2.5 million requires about N40m for flight tickets, pre-competition camping, procurement of standard amputee sports equipment, upkeep and other logistics for the delegation of 15 players and five officials.