Kunthea always loved football. He’d been an avid player since he was a primary school student. His passion held strong even as he worked diligently towards a bachelor’s degree univeruniversity. But all that came to an end when a car accident took his sight.

Recovery was slow for the 36-year old, in both body and mind. Cambodian society can be incredibly challenging for disabled persons. Not only are many spaces and institutions not designed to accommodate them, social stigma often keeps them isolated from society.  After moving back home with his parents, and on the road to rehabilitation, Kunthea looked to the beautiful game to once again enrich his life. ‘It took me many years to fully recover,” he confides “and football has helped me in the healing process, physically and mentally.’

Even though strides have been made to promote inclusion for people with disabilities, by not only ISF with our award-winning Sport for All Abilities Project but a host of other amazing social enterprises and NGOs, opportunities to play can be elusive for blind players. Societal stigma and familial concerns can hold many back from engaging in team sports. Even an adult like Kunthea faced opposition from his family after voicing his desire to get back on the pitch. They were concerned that the increased physical activity would cause his condition to worsen.

Follow us on Facebook

Join us on our journey to provide opportunities for sport to over 3,500 underprivileged Cambodian children, as well as education, healthcare and nutrition to another 700.

Like our Facebook page to share in our successes, hear about events and find out how you can help these vulnerable youth.

But Kunthea didn’t give up. He began training at Samakom Dontrey Somneang Chon Pikar Organization—where he now works—in 2018. The arts organisation provides music-based vocational training to blind persons. To also look after the health of their beneficiaries, the organization rents a football pitch for training with an ISF coach. Each week, our coaches travel to a handful of organisations like his to provide sports opportunities to hundreds of visually and hearing imparied, wheelchair bound, intellectually disabled players and those living with HIV in our Sports for All Abilities project. Now two years on, Kunthea plays regularly as a midfielder for his team. 

When asked why he likes football, Kunthea emphasizes its health benefits. Playing the sport has made him more active and healthier. He also credits team sports’ community building aspects in promoting friendship and solidarity among people. Playing with his friends and meeting new people are his best memories. Events like ISF’s All Abilities matches gives opportunities to Kunthea and his team to compete, discover their strengths and, of course, to have fun. He encourages both his able-bodied and disabled friends to play football if they haven’t. Moreover, Kunthea would like to see more disabled people playing sports and competing abroad. His plan for the future  is to continue working with his organization; using his knowledge and skills to help other blind people.

ISF Cambodia’s Sport for All Abilities Project is aided by the FIFA Foundation. The Foundation was established in 2018 as an independent entity to promote positive social change around the world. To do so, it established various projects worldwide. They include a community programme which supports organizations like ISF that use football as a tool for social change and to improve the lives of underprivileged young people.