‘We’re coming to win gold’ Turkey’s visually impaired footballers warn Brazil
European champions not afraid after being drawn in same group as hosts, who have a 100 per cent record at Paralympic Games
Turkey have improved since the London 2012 Games, when they finished eighth (Getty Images/Julian Finney)
When it comes to football 5-a-side, which is played by visually impaired players, Brazil seem invincible. The current world champions have won all three tournaments held at the Paralympic Games (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012) and are determined to extend their 100 per cent record on home soil.
So you would have thought that the teams drawn in Brazil's group at the Rio 2016 Games – Morocco, Turkey and Iran – might be trembling in their boots. Well, not Turkey, the reigning European champions.
“Actually we ended up in our dream group”
Hasam Yidirim, Turkey coach
Yidirim led a Turkish delegation at the draw, which was made on Monday (25 April) at the Rio 2016 headquarters. He said Turkey were planning on “getting the gold medal” before adding: “For us, the draw was OK. We’re also really happy with the welcome we had here and the competition venue is really impressive.”
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Paralympic mascot Tom joined Rio 2016 staff Marcos Lima and Mariana Mello, and Brazil star Jefinho for the draw (Photo: Rio 2016)
Brazil's star player and two-time Paralympic champion Jefinho admitted that Turkley posed the biggest threat in their group. “Turkey come as European champions and will definitely give us a hard time. It’ll be a tough game,” he said.
However, Brazil's biggest overall challenge for gold probably lies in the shape of traditional regional rivals Argentina, who were the other top seeded team and will compete in Group B with Mexico, Russia and China.
“Anything can happen, and that’s the beauty of football. What we want is a lot of goals”
Ulrich Pfisterer, chair of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) football committe
