Charummoodu, Alappuzha: B Basha, whose right leg was affected by polio in childhood, needs crutches to walk.
However, the 30-year-old native of Thamarakkulam near here, who ekes out a living by riding an autorickshaw, refuses to allow the disability define him. He is now preparing to fly to Indonesia to take part in the inaugural Asian Amputee Football Championship.
Son of Thekkemury Undantayyathu Basheer and Asmabeevi, Basha has been very passionate about the game from a very young age. He impressed the selectors at a selection trial held in Thrissur last month and sealed a spot in the 15-member Indian team for the continental event scheduled to kickstart in Jakarta on December 1. Six countries, including India, will participate in the five-day tournament.
Apart from Basha, three other Keralites - Raphael John (Ernakulam), Vaisakh (Kozhikode), and P T Muhammed Afeef (Kulathur) – have also made it to the national squad.
Basha, who has also represented Kerala in national-level volleyball tournaments for people with disabilities, is struggling to fund his trip to Indonesia which requires at least Rs 75,000. He hopes that somebody will come forward to help him financially.
Sajeena is his wife. The couple has two children, Sabath and Sabra.
Amputee football
Amputee football is played with metal crutches and without prostheses, the only exception being that bi-lateral amputees may play with a prosthesis. A team is made up of six outfield players and a goalkeeper. Players may not use crutches to advance, control or block the ball. Such an action will be penalised in the same way as a hand-ball infringement.
However, incidental contact between crutch and ball is tolerated. Outfield players may have two hands but only one leg, whereas goalkeepers may have two feet but only one hand.
