Turkey’s Sahinbey Municipality’s Amputee Football Team is training for the EAFF Amputee Football Champions League in May 2021. Amputee sports has become popular in Turkey in recent years especially due to the success of the national teams in many sports. Amputee football was officially recognized in Turkey in 2004. This inspired many young people to take up sports. Founded in 2017, Sahinbey Municipality’s Amputee Football Team fought for the EAFF Amputee Football Champions Cup in May 2021. Daily life is not easy for disabled people. It sometimes gets harder for amputee footballers. Their health can make training a challenge. These young footballers do their best to keep playing and win matches.
Strong wings, steel feet
Series, 3rd place
May 5, 2021. Amputee footballers training at Batıkent Futbol Park complex in Ankara.
5 May, 2021. Right-wing player Fatih Şentürk is not training on May 5th, 2021. He came by car to the park where he will meet with his fiancée. Fatih lost his leg in a car accident in 2007.
7 May, 2021. Mert Yıldız, the goalkeeper, is tying his laces. Disabled from birth, Mert was a shy child and often tried to hide his hand. He heard of amputee football when an employee at his school, also a disabled person, suggested it. Mert now feels comfortable in his skin thanks to football.
7 May, 2021. The team is having an intense training session for the EAFF Cup.
7 May, 2021. During a training session, the team gathers for a pep talk.
7 May, 2021. When the training session is over for the entire team, Mert and the second goalkeeper are continuing to train for their own position.
7 May, 2021. The training session is finished and the players rush to the showers. Centre-back player Ibrahim Halil Esen is heading to the dressing room after a shower.
11 May, 2021. After training, Ghanaian player, Muhammed Mubarik collects herbs. They help him ease his post-workout pain.
11 May, 2021. Football means a lot to these young players. They can't get enough of the ball. Fatih wants to show off his best tricks even after a long training day.
11 May, 2021. David Mendes, a Spanish player on the team, saw Fatih Şentürk and couldn't hold back. He intercepted the ball.