Six years ago, Mohamed was leading a normal life, working and spending time with his family. But one fateful day, a terrible accident left him without a leg and struggling to pick up the pieces of his shattered life. "I lost everything," he says, "I had to sell everything I had just to afford a prosthetic leg and physical therapy."
It seemed as though his life was over, as he lost his job and was confined to his home. But one day, while scrolling through Facebook, he came across videos of amputee football players showing off their skills during the national team's qualification games for the Russia 2018 World Cup. It was then that a spark of hope ignited within him.
"I immediately contacted the player and asked if there was a team I could join," says Mohamed, "but unfortunately there wasn't one yet." But that didn't stop him. He and the player met up and, with the help of a volunteer coach, they were able to find other players and form their own team.
It wasn't easy, as they faced financial and logistical challenges, but they never gave up. They rented their own pitch, bought their own equipment, and even made their own uniforms. They did everything in their power to make it happen.
The bond that formed between them went beyond just the sport, they were helping each other to cope with their physical limitations and to find a new meaning in life.
Through the sport, they found a sense of community and belonging, and it gave them a purpose and a reason to keep going. They knew they were not alone in their struggles, and that together they could overcome any obstacle.
Despite offers from teams in the UAE and France, Mohamed and his team have always turned them down. "The officials promised us they would help us, but so far nothing has changed," says Mohamed. But his ambition doesn't stop there. He dreams of one day becoming a coach, helping others who have suffered losses like his to adapt and find a new path through sport or any kind of support.
Through their perseverance and determination, Mohamed and his team have shown that with the support of others and a never-say-die attitude, it's possible to turn a tragedy into a victory. They have proven that no matter what life throws your way, you can always find a way to keep moving forward. everything.’
After two years Mohamed was desperate. He lost his job, had no income sources, and wasn’t able to leave his home. While scrolling on Facebook, he found videos of an amputee football fan showing off his skills during the Egyptian national team's match in the World Cup qualifiers.
‘I messaged him right away and asked if there was a team that I can join, since I used to play football before my accident in a local team. Unfortunately, there wasn’t one yet, but we met up and managed to find other players to form one ourselves.’ After years of struggle, Mohamed and his colleagues were able to form the first amputee football team on their own, in the absence of any help from officials. His ambition is endless and he hopes to be a coach one day to help and support others with disabilities to adapt to their new lives through sport.
