Turning on the Power play
An economic machine creating cashflow for commercial interests? An activity to which one can dedicate themselves to improve as a person? It may be all of these and none of these.
The sport of Power-wheelchair Football, however, is likely to hold little meaning for the majority of people. Why? Because until now, you’ve never heard of it.
But that’s all set to change.
In 1999 a little boy stormed off the field in an U6 football match at a local GAA club. Having contributed very little to the game, and always a few steps off the play, he somehow found himself in possession near the goal. He hopped the ball and steadied himself to shoot. He scored a goal but as he began to celebrate, the referee blew his whistle and disallowed the goal because he had taken too many steps.
I was distraught and having hurled some abuse at him, I walked off in tears. It was the last time I’d play football. I had recently been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. My walking was impaired, I had over-carried the ball because I needed extra steps just to balance, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I couldn’t play at all and that I’d never get to play sport properly with others again. Within three years I was a full-time wheelchair user and competitive sport was a distant memory.
Within 12 years I was a full Irish soccer international and captain; and the referees were at it again.
Less than 10 minutes into Ireland’s final standings match at the 2011 FIPFA World Cup in Paris, I had ‘scored’ Ireland’s first goal in international competition. My shot crossed the line and the goalie tried to push it out but couldn’t get there in time. He pushed the ball back out but the cheers were ringing and we made our way back for the restart. We turned to see the officials at odds over the call, but again it didn’t go my way.
I flashed back to that day 12 years previous, but this time smiled to myself and after some incredulous looks and murmuring let it go. Things weren’t so bad, look how far I had come. From facing the prospect of never playing any sport again, to playing the sport I always hoped I would. Not only that, but was representing my country, as captain in the biggest competition in the world. It’s not easy to describe how that feels.
And I’d still have my sport to play tomorrow and in the future. So I stayed on this time. And we won 4-0.
When the final whistle blows at the Fifa World Cup final on July 13 and the globe rejoices in the aftermath of a festival of football, Irish football fans will likely reflect on what might have been. Another international tournament; another Irish team conspicuous by its absence. What most fans are unaware of, however, is that they only have to look to a few days after the summer showpiece at the Maracana to see Irish football at a major international competition, and it’s right on their own doorstep.
From July 17-20, the inaugural European Powerchair Football Nations Cup will take place in Limerick’s UL Arena. It will be the biggest sporting event to take place in Limerick this summer, as six international teams and their supporters travel to the 2014 City of Culture for the four-day tournament. While European glory in the Treaty city will be the primary focus for the teams involved, the excitement and tension of the competition will be boosted as the event will also serve as a qualifying tournament for the 2015 FIPFA World Cup finals.
Powerchair football — or power-soccer as it’s also known — is one of the fastest growing variations of football/soccer in the world. It allows people who are power wheelchair users to participate in sport and the world’s most popular sport at that.
Describing it is not easy. I once attempted to make powerchair football sound sexy bydescribing it as a cross between Top Gear’s car football and Robot Wars. My sexy description does not begin to do it any justice and on this rare occasion the cliché of ‘you have to see it for yourself’ rings true.
It sets up the same as soccer; two teams, two goals, two halves, one winner. The sport is played indoors, usually on a standard sized basketball court. Players can be male or female and play in teams of four, trying to outscore the opposition over a 40-minute game. Using their wheelchairs and specialist foot guards and bumpers, players pass and shoot the ball using push, reverse and spin techniques. Different techniques afford players different levels of speed, power and accuracy in their play which will also be affected by the type of wheelchair and equipment used. The sport has been in existence since 1979 but only arrived in Ireland in 2003.
In its first six years, the sport provided a primarily social and recreational function. However, in 2009 the Association of Irish Powerchair Football (AIPF) was established and Irish powersoccer began to develop quickly.
The AIPF provided a national structure in which a solid player base, club teams and official competitions could be established and in 2009, the inaugural AIPF Cup was held with six teams and approximately 30 players. Since then, significant strides have been made to develop the game and in May the curtain will come down on four annual AIPF league and cup competitions that will have featured up to 12 teams and approximately 100 players.
Irish powersoccer has also begun to have an impact on the international game. An Irish senior team participated in the FIPFA World Cup for the first time in 2011, finishing ninth, while 2013 saw our U16 and U18 teams place fourth and fifth respectively at FIPFA’s Junior World Tournament. Ireland was also represented for the first time at international club level in 2013, at the European Champions Cup by AIPF league champions Midlands United.
The Nations Cup this summer, however, will offer Ireland the chance to leave an indelible mark on powerchair football and become an important player in the international game. As hosts, both the AIPF and the city of Limerick will bring together volumes of past experience of major sporting events to make full use of the facilities available. Within the squad, every player will have been part of at least one previous tournament. Combined with youth, natural talent and home advantage, these factors can help Ireland upset the established teams and possibly become the first champions of European powersoccer. If that is to happen, this Irish team will be looking for all the support possible and I want to ask each and every man, woman and child who may be intrigued or enthused by such a spectacle to turn out and support this great event.
When people see powersoccer for the first time, often what enthrals them most is not the speed or the skill or the power of the game, but the commitment and intensity brought to the game by its players. As a sport for power wheelchair users, it affords those of us with more severe disabilities an opportunity that we never thought we’d have. For many this isn’t about getting out and being active, but challenging ourselves and being competitive. When we play, the only challenges and limitations people see are those of a sporting nature: ‘Does she have the nerve to score the penalty?’ ‘He shouldn’t be playing down the middle!’ ‘Why doesn’t the referee give them anything?’
The game has a great meaning for all of us and drives an incredibly strong passion that we all share. I hope that from July 17 to 20, you can too.
Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill launched the July 17-20 event, which will see seven international squads from across Europe compete in Limerick to become the inaugural European Powerchair football champions, with the top five countries qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil 2015.
Power-Chair Football is the fastest growing disability sport in the world, with 20 countries participating across five continents. Ireland has the honour of hosting the first European Nations Cup since the European Power-chair Football Association was established in 2010. UL Arena will host France, England, Belgium, Denmark, Portugal, Switzerland and the host nation Ireland in July. The Association of Irish Powerchair Football is always looking to increase membership, so anyone seeking information on how to get involved, log on to www.aipf.ie.
Invacare have come on board as title sponsors of the event. FAI chief executive John Delaney said: “Powerchair football is a fantastic sport, and spectators will not be disappointed.”
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