Mexico stages first women’s blind football club match

"We are proud and will continue to develop women’s blind football. This is another achievement for us. It is important to have gender equality in the game as blind football is great for men and women.”

Another milestone in women’s blind football history was reached on 21 October as the first international club match took place in Mexico with local team Topos Puebla FC facing Argentina’s Las Guerreras de Cordoba at Anahuac University.

Coaches and players from the Mexican team had participated in the inaugural International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Women’s Blind Football Training Camp and Tournament in Vienna, Austria, last May.

A large group of fans attended the game in great anticipation and watched Las Guerreras de Cordoba achieving a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal scored by Yohana Aguilar.

“Scoring the only goal in the match for my team gave me great satisfaction,” said Aguilar.

“It has been a joy to come to Mexico, having sacrificed a lot to fulfill our dream to play internationally. And to crown that effort with a goal, which was not only mine but the whole team’s, was a fantastic feeling.”

Jorge Lanzagorta, Mexican blind football player and one of the founders of the women's team, felt proud that Topos Puebla are addressing an important gap in the development of women's blind football.

"We are proud and will continue to develop women’s blind football. This is another achievement for us. It is important to have gender equality in the game as blind football is great for men and women.”

There are plans in Mexico to establish a women’s Blind Football League and for Topos Puebla to host the first women’s Blind Football International Cup.

After the match, Las Guerreras de Córdoba stayed for an additional week to visit other cities in Mexico to deliver workshops. During their stay in Riviera Maya, the Argentinian side visited a school in Playa Del Carmen, where they gave a blind football demonstration to students and teachers.

This has been a historic year in the development of women’s blind football. After the first training camp and tournament in Vienna, Argentinian team Paradeportes Cañuelas FC presented their female team in July.

In August, Bina Foundation created the first female blind football team in Nigeria and Belgium’s Dorien Cornelis became the first-ever female player to compete at an IBSA Blind Football regional event as she competed at the European Championships in Berlin, Germany. Additionally, Julia Kalabau was the only female IBSA referee at the Euros.

Earlier this month, Costa Rican referee Hilary Ramirez was one of the key officials at the inaugural IBSA Blind Football Central American Championships in Guatemala. She wasn’t alone as the competition brought together a total of nine female coaches, guides and support staff from four countries.

Full story is available on IBSA’s website.