Ampfutbol Juniors From All Over The World Trained And Made Their Dreams Come True In Warsaw!
Dozens of children with limb defects from all over Europe and even Costa Rica flew to Poland to enjoy a game of amputee football at the Legia Warsaw stadium. Organised with the support of UEFA, the young participants of the amputee Junior Camp went out onto the pitch of Legia’s stadium after several days of training and matches, where they were enthusiastically greeted by twenty thousand fans in the capital.
“It was an amazing experience and an amazing camp! I am proud and delighted that I was able to train again with children from all over the world and in my city.”
16-year-old Ala, a goalkeeper who is about to make her debut in the women’s amputee national team
Junior Camp is a unique project of the European amputee football federation EAFF, which is organised in a different country every year. The first such camp, held in 2016 in Ireland, was also the beginning of junior amputee football. Previously, despite a long tradition, this variation of football was only played by adults. Subsequent editions of the event were held in Poland, Italy, Germany and Georgia with the participation of more and more players. This year’s edition was attended not only by children from Europe, but also by young players from Costa Rica, which is expected to be a prelude to the organisation of similar camps, and thus the development of junior amputee football, also on other continents.
The Warsaw edition of the event would not have been so successful had it not been for the organisational commitment of Legia Warsaw and the Legia Foundation.
”It is wonderful to watch the children taking part in this event. They are true warriors. They have an incredible strength and desire to play football and it is really beautiful.”
Magda Pelczyńska, member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors
Thanks to the cooperation with Legia, the young amputees were able not only to train and play on the pitch of the stadium at Łazienkowska Street, but also to experience incredible moments at the end of the camp. The closing ceremony was combined with a Legia league match. The players first received their commemorative diplomas in the skybox and then, to their surprise, walked out to accompany the players to the middle of the pitch, where they were applauded by the twenty thousand fans who had arrived at the stadium. Both the juniors themselves and their proud parents could not hide their excitement after the event.
The Polish players, their parents and coaches have high hopes that this year’s camp will translate into an influx of more children into the nationwide Junior Amp Futbol programme.
”Every year we have more and more children at the camps, but also more and more players, the kids are happy here. We hope that thanks to the presence of the media, more kids with limb defects from Poland will learn that they can play football and join us.”
Kaja Ożgo, coach and coordinator of Junior Amp Futbol
It is worth mentioning the incredible popularity of the media coverage of the junior camps, which further helps to promote the amputee idea and reach new fans, players and even countries with it. Facebook posts just about this year’s camp, published on the European federation’s profile, have already exceeded fifty million reach, which translates into more messages from amputees and people with limb defects from different countries who want to start playing amputee football.
”Running on crutches is not easy at all, you need a lot of practice and motivation, but this is amputee football and it’s great!”
8-year-old Olive, one of the youngest participants
Poland is one of the world leaders in children’s amputee football. The nationwide Junior Amp Futbol programme is based on monthly weekend training camps where young players come together with their mentors. Amp Futbol Poland invites new players all the time and participation in all training camps and even international camps is completely free of charge.
