Patronato’s inclusive football team is preparing with its coach Carina Landra for what will be a new participation in the National League that will have its first date on June 29 in the city of Rosario. This season the tournament table will be divided by zones. The Paraná team was grouped in the Litoral team along with teams from Santa Fe, Entre Ríos and Tucumán.
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Patronato’s inclusive football is being prepared with its coach Carina Landra.
Alan Barbosa/UNOER
The discipline will be developed futsal style, with five players per side (including the goalkeeper). The growth of sport in the Holy of Villa Sarmiento is such that they have gone from three players, at the beginning, to having a squad of 27 boys waiting for their turn to play with the ball. In August it will be two years since inclusion has been part of football in Patronato.
Together with Carina Landra and her collaborators, the red and black promotes a space of respect and tolerance where people who do not have disabilities compete or play alongside people with intellectual disabilities as peers, fostering camaraderie and solidarity. With inclusion there is no modification of the characteristics of the sport, the rules of practice are maintained. Therefore, everyone plays under the same rules and practices together. This is an example of how the entire group can benefit, achieving more just and balanced societies.
Regarding the upcoming competition, the coach spoke with ONE and made it clear that they will go to Rosario in search of a podium.
“The first year we participated in the National Inclusive Soccer League we finished runners-up. In the second year we finished third. So the challenge for this season is not to get off the podium. The kids are very passionate, interested and enthusiastic. When they come to practice they ask when we are going to play, how much time is left and so on,” Landra stated. In turn, he added: “Luckily we were able to play some friendlies. That works for them. Not only to get the ball rolling but also to differentiate between futsal, 5-a-side soccer and 11-a-side soccer.”
The discipline is developed like futsal. Therefore, for Carina, it is very important that they become friends with the sport and learn about it. “The primary task is to instill futsal in the kids. “Learn the rules, the work methodology, how to defend and attack, among other things.”
“I work with two teachers and this year we had the possibility of adding a teacher who plays futsal. For them it was an immense emotion”he added.
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Patronato’s inclusive football is being prepared with its coach Carina Landra.
Alan Barbosa/UNOER
On the other hand, he mentioned the work he does with the kids: “It is not complicated at all to work with them. Furthermore, there is a wide variety in terms of ages. From 15 onwards. The oldest, who competes with us, is 48 years old.”
Likewise, he clarified: “Age is not an inconvenience. If they are 10, 11 or 12 years old they can also come closer. We always wait for you with open doors.”
“We have a WhatsApp group where we communicate to come train. They are very active there (laughs) but they ask their schedules and concerns are cleared,” he added. In turn, he continued: “When they come to training they have a very good predisposition. They understand the sport and they understand each other among peers. Being inclusive football we have different disabilities, such as mild or profound intellectual disabilities. It is a specific job.”
“The kids here are Patronato fans. They put on the shirt and defend it to the last. Fanaticism is paramount in them,” said the DT.
Patronato’s inclusive football uses the parquet
Since the last week of March, inclusive football has been carrying out its activity on the new parquet floor of the sports gym. “It’s a luxury. We are very grateful to the club that gives us this possibility. The kids really enjoy coming to practice here because we have it exclusively once a week,” said Carina Landra regarding the parquet that has an area of 900 square meters and is made of guatambú wood (harder than what is usually used). It is used in parquet floors.
In search of players
Although the growth of the sport in Patronato was notable and in almost every practice new people joined the squad, inclusive football red and black wants to participate in the Down Syndrome category and for this Carina Landra called the parents and invited them to bring their children to the club.
“We want to make the call. There are many people from Paraná who do not know that inclusive football exists in Patronato. We are waiting for all those interested. Please come to the club and consult the page of the Integrated Department of the Board of Trustees. “It is the only club in Paraná that works with inclusive football,” he said, in the first instance.
“I call parents who have a son or daughter with Down Syndrome. We are looking to include the boys in that category because the same exists in the National League. We need them to come and enjoy the sport in a beautiful place, surrounded by good people,” concluded Carina Landra.
