Women & Girl’s Para Football come and try day which is coming up on the 15th of April.
Women & Girl’s Para Football Come and Try day which is coming up on the 15th of April.
Para football is a modified version of football (soccer) recognised on an international level. It is for people with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries or stroke related impairments.
Last year, Football Australia launched the National Para Football women’s team, ParaMatildas. Since the launch of the team, Football Victoria are continuing to hold Come and Try days with the long-term aim of a Victorian women’s only Para-Football program.
Hear about Nicole Christodoulou's experience playing soccer after her strokes.
Nicole had two strokes at the age of 21 which left her paralysed down the left side of her body is not willing to give up her dreams and in ParaMatildas she has found more motivation to keep kicking her goals.
“I’ve always been a happy person, even when I was in hospital. All I wanted to do was play football,” Christodoulou who is also a high school teacher said.
“I had to learn how to walk again, how to run, how to kick a ball, so being here today, means everything to all of us. We’re going to make all of you proud. As our coach [Kelly Stirton] said, ‘We’re going to take over the whole world’,” Christodoulou enthused sending a message to everyone going through challenging times.
“I’ve had many people put me down and say, you can’t do this, you can’t do that, you’re not going to be a teacher, you can’t work, you can’t play football. But did I listen to them? No, that’s why I’m here.”