The Bór Oborniki Śląskie Football Club is opening its doors to children with disabilities! Join the Futbol Plus project now and participate in free training sessions tailored to your needs. An interview with coach Tomasz Osiński.

The Bór Oborniki Śląskie Football Club has joined the nationwide Futbol Plus project, which gives children with disabilities access to regular training tailored to their needs and all associated football events. Training will begin soon, and Bór encourages everyone to join the team. We speak with coach Tomasz Osiński.

Coach Tomasz Osiński - Photo: KP BÓR Oborniki Śląskie

NEW: What conditions must be met for a child to join the Futbol Plus team?

Tomasz Osiński: "A certificate of disability is sufficient. Place of residence is irrelevant; a parent can register a child from outside our municipality. To join the project, we must have at least 10 players under the age of 18. The regulations define four main groups of players: those without mobility limitations, those with mild disabilities who require minimal adjustments to the game, those with moderate disabilities who require greater support and adjustments to the rules, and those with severe disabilities who require maximum support and individual adjustments to the game. I think this won't be a problem, and if more people are interested, we can create additional groups."

Is there any cost for parents to enroll their child?

- The classes are free. You'll just need to transport your child to the training session. Participation in the training sessions is free, as are the equipment and t-shirts. It's practically free.

Can any child with a disability certificate register?

Yes. The type of disability doesn't matter. Futbol Plus trains children in wheelchairs, those with crutches, and those with Down syndrome... All you need is the will. Anyone who enjoys football and spending time outdoors can come; no skills are required. We'll teach you everything you need to know.

Aren't you afraid of training with children who may have many limitations?

"No. No one will force anything here, no one will shout. We will play, enjoying the opportunity, and the most important thing is for these children to get out of the house and interact with their peers. These training sessions are meant to be enjoyable, and we will work to make that happen. This project wasn't created to cause frustration, but to provide the satisfaction of being able to get out on the pitch. These children already have it tough, and for me, the most important thing is to give them more joy, to experience a normal childhood. And although we realize that the players may have to overcome fear of groups, noise, or other factors that are common during training, we are optimistic. Tears and anger may arise – we know that, and that doesn't discourage us. If there is too much noise or other disruptive conditions, we will find a place and time suitable for the players. We are open to suggestions from parents and guardians, because the most important thing is the children. We will adjust everything so that everyone is happy."

Will parental involvement in the project be welcomed?

"Of course. Especially since, as part of Futbol Plus, the team will participate in games, tournaments, events, etc. Parental help will be greatly appreciated. We encourage parents to collaborate. Volunteers are needed, and they can even apply for coaching certificates. Their help will always be gratefully accepted. It's worth noting that the team will be participating in tournaments across Poland, often in stadiums such as Chorzów and Gdańsk. Each of these tournaments features well-known figures from the world of sports and beyond. So, it's sure to be a great adventure for the players. Everything is free for the team. We already have an invitation to the tournament in Legnica on October 11th."

When do you start training?

"Technically, it's after the summer holidays, but we'd like to start training in mid-August. Our second coach will be Mosez Hubert Singh from India. We'll try to reach out to schools, especially special schools. We know there are many children with disabilities. A normal childhood will provide them with access to sports activities."

Will leading a team that includes people with disabilities be more difficult than the regular job of a coach?

"There will be children with various disabilities in one group, and we'll have to accept that. There will be people of different ages and with various disabilities, such as motor and intellectual disabilities. There might be an 8-year-old and a teenager approaching adulthood. We'll have to reconcile all of this. A lot depends on the number of players, because if there are more, we can group them based on age and disability. But if we create just one group, we'll be able to manage. I also want to emphasize that as a club, we want to build a community, so we invite everyone who wants to play, whether it's football or rugby, or to support, help, or get involved. We also welcome everyone with different ideas. Hej Bór!

Thank you for the interview

Photo: KP BÓR Oborniki Śląskie