The first ever International Skate Soccer Fiesta played by physically challenged athletes from Nigeria and Ghana will take place at the Independence Square in Accra, Ghana on March 19.
Binatone, a household electronic appliances manufacturer as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, is sponsoring the competition, which is organised by the International Federation for Skate Soccer (IFSS).
An inaugural event of the IFSS competition had earlier taken place at La Pleasure Beach in Accra on January 15 with a team from Accra playing against another from the Ashanti region in Ghana. The match attracted a crowd of thousands and gained massive publicity on all different media.
As a follow-up to the success of that match, IFSS and Binatone have organised a game that will evoke the age-old soccer rivalry between the two West African countries. Live audiences of several thousands are expected to attend with Super Sports taking the lead for media coverage. The event has garnered support from several top International businesses that are willing to sponsor it.
The sport and the non-profit IFSS were created to bring together the physically challenged, with a core focus on Polio sufferers who have no ability to walk, who usually beg for alms. The benefit that IFSS hopes to bring to these individuals is food, shelter and help in finding a steady job.
Binatone Group Managing Director, Mr. Sunil Lalvani, said that his company got behind Skate Soccer and the IFSS as he felt it was an excellent way for the company to give back to a part of the world that has treated it so well.
“The cause is more than worthy, and the approach taken by IFSS make it a sustainable cause over the long term also. The organisation not only works to give the players (and other non-playing Polio sufferers) a proper livelihood, but by taking them off the streets, they regain their dignity,” he said.
Mr. Lalvani continued that he has joined the board of IFSS with the aim guiding it to make it a global success. After the upcoming Ghana versus Nigeria game, he disclosed that the organisation will plan an African Cup of Nations style tournament to involve the whole continent, and the greater goal remain to take this riveting sport to the Paralympic Games.