Football Dreams & The Dinka Boys

Simon Madol Akol, South Sudan

Light for the World is an international NGO focused on disability rights and inclusion and eye health in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Sudan and Uganda. Alongside their partners, Light for the World support several disability-inclusive sports projects in South Sudan, including sponsoring the South Sudan Blind Football League. Simon Madol Akol is the head coach and technical director of the League.  

My name is Simon Madol Akol, I am 26 years old, and I live in Mahad camp for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Juba, South Sudan. I am the current head coach and technical director of the South Sudan Blind Football League. I am also working with Light for the World as a Disability Inclusion Facilitator. 

I grew up in Bor, a city in South Sudan. I fell in love with football when I was nine years old during the 2006 World Cup. We were so obsessed with football. Me, my cousins and other kids in the neighbourhood formed a team called Dinka Boys. I was the youngest and the captain of the team. I was selected as captain because of my ability to score goals in most of the games we played. 

Football was more than just a sport for us. Through football we could make new friends and grow our circle. Football was the source of happiness and joy. We could play until it was dark and could no longer see the ball. 

That was until the war broke out in 2013. People began to run, looking for safety. That is when we had to decide to come to Juba. My father was working as a security guard in Mahad Primary School in Juba, so my family settled in his place of work with other families. Since the school was safer, many people began to come from different locations in South Sudan until Mahad became an IDP camp. We began to receive humanitarian assistance from different organisations such as WFP, WHO, UNHCR, and Light for the World.

Unfortunately, there was no peace among the youth in the camp. Since we came from different backgrounds, there was always fighting in the camp. Because of that, Light for the World came in with the idea of Sports for Peace. That was how I got back into football again. Because of football, all the conflicts in the camp disappeared. We became friends and we were now solving problems together in the camp, regardless of our language or tribe.

How did you become involved with blind football?

In 2018, me and Konyi Ismail, who was also one of our players, got an invitation from Light for the World to attend a training on disability inclusion. We became Disability Inclusion Facilitators alongside other youth with different types of disabilities. 

There are so many people with disabilities here in South Sudan, especially with visual impairments, because of war and diseases. Many lost their sight because of bombs. It is estimated there are about 1.2 million people with disabilities in South Sudan. 

In 2020, Light for the World worked with Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs) in Juba to come up with disability-inclusive sports projects, with sponsorship from UEFA Foundation for Children.

I was asked to lead the project with the South Sudan Association of the Visually Impaired (SSAVI). SSAVI’s plan was for us to implement Goalball but since I was from a football background, I did not see myself coaching Goalball because I did not know how it was played. But I did some research and bam, I found blind football. 

Only goalkeepers are sighted, but we also give chances to people with low vision since everyone in the field is blindfolded, except the goalkeepers. 

In addition to that, we also trained a team called Dream FC in blind football, because one of our players (Yona) was once a player in Dream FC before he became blind. He requested us to train his previous teammates. Now we sometimes play friendly matches with Dream FC.

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

The people you can see are football-loving athletes who are blind with their guides and coaches. They come from different backgrounds, they speak different languages. Some of them are Christian and others are Muslim. Some players are in primary school, others are in secondary and university and some are university graduates. 

Most of the photos were taken in Dr Biar Sports Complex in Juba, which is our main training centre because of its accessibility. Other photos were taken in Rajaf Educational Centre for the Blind or at the University of Juba during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 

I wanted to demonstrate the bond we have with each other. You can see the joy and brotherhood that comes with this sport. 

This photo showing James and Oya getting ready is my favourite. These two boys are in the same school. Before they joined blind football, they only met in school. Now, we have created for them a wider space where they can make new friends, learn new things, and create memories. 

Are there any good stories connected with the people you photographed?

The story of Mubarak Joseph is my favourite. Mubarak was a footballer before he became blind and he had dreams of becoming a football star one day. But after he became blind, he lost the hope and dreams that he had. Mubarak had to quit school, all he did was stay indoors. He thought he lost it all until he heard about us. 

Mubarak came and we welcomed him to our team with a big hug. He was so happy that there are so many other people like him. Mubarak rejoined the school to learn braille and he is now continuing his education. I am so happy to see that Mubarak regained his confidence, hope and dreams.

Can you tell us about the blind football community in South Sudan and its history? What is the role of LFTW?

Blind football started in 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak. The project was originally meant for children under 16 but was shifted to adults. We started with two players, with me as coach. I was being guided by an instructor from Germany called Wolf, hired by Light for the World. Wolf was the coach of the FC St. Pauli blind football team and he gave me advice via video call. 

We have been practising this sport for four years now. Today we are more than just players of the same sport, we are like family. When one of us is sick, we all go and see him. We are always there for each other, in good times and bad. 

We train once a week and we have at least two tournaments every quarter of the year and one major league. We launched the Blind Football Premier League last year, which was a dream come true.

Everything we need is provided by Light for the World, including the uniforms, boots, socks, blindfolds, head protectors, pitch fees, transport for the players, water, and first aid kit. 

What impact has blind football and LFTW had on you?

Light for the World has had a great impact on me as a person. A few years ago, two journalists (Victor and Chris) came from the Netherlands to cover Light for the World’s work here in South Sudan. Since I was among the few people who knew English here in the camp, I was asked to help translate for them. I moved with them from household to household for three days. 

During the three days, they had also been asking about me and they found out that I finished high school and I was not in university due to lack of financial support. On their final day before they travelled back, Victor surprised me by offering to sponsor me to go to university. Today, I am a graduate of the University of Juba, I have a diploma in communication and public relations. This year I am hoping to go back to the university and continue studying. If it was not for Light for the World, this would not have been possible. 

Associating with people with disabilities has shaped the way I look at things. It has made me realise that the real vision is not in the sight, but in the mind. 

Now I believe that everyone has an opportunity to make this world a better place to live in, regardless of their impairment.

I engage in blind football every week and it is now one of my physical activities. During the training sessions we make sure that players enjoy the process.

Through blind football, we are able to raise awareness about disability inclusion and inclusive sports in schools, through local radio stations, and during games. We also use our social media platforms to talk about the benefits of sports for children with disabilities and we encourage families to engage their children in sports. 

Through blind football, the parents who lost hope in their children have regained hope and are now once again supporting them. Through blind football, the feeling of loneliness the players used to have is taken away. Through blind football, players are able to visit new places and make new friends. 

What does football mean to you? What ambitions do you have for the future?

To me, football is a universal language that is used to bring people together, regardless of their disability, background, or religious beliefs. In the near future, I want to see blind football spreading to all corners of South Sudan and across Africa. I want all the people with visual impairments to be able to experience the benefits that come with this beautiful sport. 

What is the future for football in South Sudan? What would you like to change?

The future for football in South Sudan is getting brighter day by day. New local leagues are being created, the national stadium is being modified, referees are being trained, and the national teams are performing well in international stages. This shows that we are on the right track.  The one thing I would love to change is to have more attention on sports for people with disabilities. Currently it is not enough.