They are “different”, but the Algarve Exceptional Person Support Association (APEXA) does not let them be left out of the game. Adapted football is, there, much more than a simple game: it creates hauls, «helps them in their daily lives» and has even given a cup to the Albufeira association. APEXA users don't have great luxuries, much less big bucks, but only one objective: “to outdo themselves in every training session”.
In the Albufeira Sports Pavilion, there are pins, bows and balls. Coming from the dressing room, the five footballers of the day are arriving for training: Samuel Inglês, Tiago Silva, Vera Monteiro, Miguel Lopes and Ângela Gomes. They have different ages, different disabilities and even physical abilities that do not match.
Samuel, who has Down syndrome, is the most euphoric. Running exercises make them smile. "He's our star," says coach Filipe Alcântara. Samuel confesses to Sul Informação the joy of playing at APEXA. «We are all very good friends».
Asked if he has a favorite player, the athlete chooses an entire team. «The Benfica! I like all the players», he reveals, smiling.
After the initial race it is time to take shots on goal. «I always try to adapt the training to each one, because this also helps them at a motor level», explains Filipe. Effortlessly, after receiving the ball from the hands of their colleague Tito Alves, who is in a wheelchair, they all fire shots on goal. Some give a goal, others go to the side, but there it doesn't matter.
"Our goal is more for them to keep their existing skills, than the progression itself, but any small evolution is a big victory," says the coach.
Nor does the fact that his pupils lack the mastery of other football players pinch their pride. “When we started working with people in this area, we included ourselves in the group and we are part of it”, he explains.
APEXA's adapted football class, which was created in 2006, was born from a distant example. «During the month of March, we had several Dutch teams coming to the Algarve for internships, proposing games for us», says Nuno Neto, president of the association, as he watches the training.
The team was born from the proposal, also as an example of ethics in sport. “The pride that gives us to see these athletes having fun is very great”, he says.
And now, every year, there is a great competition organized by APEXA: the International Adapted Football Tournament of the Algarve (TIFAA), which the association has already won.
This year's edition is next Saturday, March 18, and will bring together 12 teams at the Albufeira Municipal Stadium. Prognostics for the Algarve association? «Give our best», says, between laughs, Filipe.
Although APEXA training takes place in a pavilion, the competition takes place in a seven-a-side football field. This is not seen by Nuno Neto as a problem: «we have the help of the Chamber, which makes the pavilion available to us. Here we can train in the rain, for example», he explains.
The game also has some rules: teams are mixed and players are divided into four classes (A, B, C and D). At TIFAA, these footballers will have, as teammates, users of another APEXA project: Choices.
After the race and shots on goal, Filipe gives the training, shorter than usual, as finished. It is time for the pupils to return to the changing rooms.
«In Portuguese culture, when someone has a problem of this nature, it is considered a hopeless case. This is an example of how it is not!” concludes Nuno Neto, keeping his eyes on APEXA users.
Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação
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