Sione Saafi is a 17-year-old boy who loves football like many other boys his age. However, unlike the others Sione has intellectual disability. At class three, his school principal identified that Sione had a speech delay, but that has not stopped him from enjoying the game he loves. He has been playing for his village team (Ha’ateiho FC) for almost four years after being introduce to football by a Just Play volunteer, Viliami Taufa.
Sione’s mother, ‘Ofa Saafi said: “Sione is smart but his intellectual disability disrupts his learning career. We did not want Sione to feel lonely so we (his parents) decided to look for a special school which he could attend in order to make him feel included and able to socialize with other children rather than just staying at home”.
Sione attended three special schools for children with a disability in Tonga with the hope of helping him socialize with children from different communities. Out of these three special schools, ‘Ofa Tui moe ‘Amanaki Center proved to be his favorite. He never failed to attend school because he enjoyed it so much.
Despite his intellectual disability, Sione is a very helpful boy at home; his everyday chores would be picking up rubbish and collecting coconuts to feed their pigs.
In 2021, Viliami Taufa introduced the Just Play program to the village of Haateiho. Viliami’s openness, caring and fun attitude attracts Sione’s attention to involve in soccer through the Just Play grassroots program.
“We would like to thank Viliami for helping Sione, we know for sure that if it wasn’t for Viliami, Sione would not be happy to go to football. We can easily notice when Viliami was not at training, Sione doesn’t like to go training and he would come and tell us that he is been “shamed”, ‘Ofa said with teary eyes.
“Viliami always help Sione to get along with the children and makes him feel like he is not different. His involvement in the program, training for the clubs competition are all contributes to Sione’s happiness. If we stop Sione from going to football I think that will be a sad news for him,” she added.
As volunteers for the Just Play program, they are trained to work with not only those with capability and capacity but special needs as well. Viliami TAUFA not only works to promote football but also ensure that both boys and girls are developed technically, mentally, and emotionally inclusively.
But with Sione, Viliami makes sure that Sione has the chance to play, engage with children, through fun games and soccer training.
“Sione is very important, whether a minute or two for him to play, kick the ball he is always excited about it. I want to thank Sione’s parents for bringing him to our football club and I hope that Sione is having a great time and continue enjoying being a player in our Club,” Taufa said.
Football is not only a game but also a home where children get to experience equal opportunities and a place where they feel happy and safe.
Acknowledging all our ongoing supporters, the Government of Australia and New Zealand, UNICEF Pacific, UEFA Foundation for children, Football Australia and Team UP. Thank you for all your generous contributions and your willingness to walk with us in creating equal opportunities for children with disability in football.
