Courtesy:
New Straits TimesBlind footballers in awesome display09 July 2013REMARKABLE: Team show their skills in Columbia Asia Charity Tournament
SUBANG JAYA: THE Columbia Asia Charity Futsal Tournament culminated in a grand finale recently at Sports Planet, here.
A total of 276 teams took part in the tournament held throughout last month.
To participate in the tournament, each team was charged a fee of RM120. From this amount, RM20 was channeled to the Malaysian Blind Sports Association while another RM10 was added on by Columbia Asia.
This Corporate Social Responsibility programme raised RM10,000 for the Malaysian Blind Sports Association. Columbia Asia-South East Asia CEO Kelvin Tan presented the cheque to Malaysian Blind Sports Association chairman Dr S. Radhakrishnan.
"I am pleased to note that since 2009, Blind Football has developed into an elite and competitive sport in Malaysia. However, funding remains a challenge for the development of Blind Sports.
"Thus I laud this effort by Columbia Asia Group of Hospitals in championing fitness, health and sports among Malaysians through futsal," said Radhakrishnan.
Head coach Sunny Shalesh said the blind football national team have several targets, including the Thailand Open next month, the 2014 Asean Para Games (Myanmar) and the Asian Para Games (Incheon) and the 2015 International Blind Sports Federation World Games in South Korea.
During the grand finale of the Columbia Asia Charity Futsal Tournament, six teams showcased their skills. The teams were from Columbia Asia Hospitals from Setapak, Cheras, Puchong, Bukit Rimau, Shah Alam and the management office.
There were also two teams from the five-a-side football blind teams. They displayed an inspiring demonstration game, first against each other, then against Astro celebrities and finally against the champion of the grand finale.
"Some of us cannot imagine how it is possible for someone without sight to play football -- how does one know which way to run or in which direction to pass the ball? This is certainly something to be in awe of," said Tan.
When the blind football demonstration was going on, the audience had to be very quiet. The ball had a rattle in it so the players could follow its sound.
Players will shout a specific call to their teammates to know which way the ball should be kicked. It was a unique game and the audience were in awe of the blind footballers who displayed skills on the futsal court regardless of their visual impairment.
As for the champion of the Columbia Asia Charity Futsal Tournament, first place went to Team Setapak Dragons from Columbia Asia Hospital-Setapak while Team Ninja Go from Columbia Asia Hospital-Cheras were second, Team Health Mafia from the Columbia Asia management office third.
Columbia Asia regional marketing manager Nathalie Seroux gave away the prizes to the winners.
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luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
