University student and his team with different abilities: an adventure of inclusion in Lolo Fernández

On the slab of the Lolo Fernández Stadium, in the middle of the Lima sunset, a nice story of academic, where rejoicing is not necessary. A ball, 14 players with Down syndrome, a coach and two goals are enough for the joy to shine on the cream field. Along the way, the dreams of these boys are propelled to the beat of the ball. The adventure for them has only just begun.

“We are all University”wrote on his social networks a colleague – cream to die -, who almost always looks next to his brother with Down syndrome, also a fan of the ‘U’. And nothing more true than that. The merengue club has taken an important and necessary step towards inclusion in Peruvian soccer. And, really, this is how it is reflected that they are all University students.

Exactly, on December 16, 2021, this adventure officially began.

“It was offered to academic to be the first club that can have this type of boys developing the futsal activity and he accepted, also to support us with the facilities, materials, as long as it is non-profit, which is what is sought. We do not charge the boys. At the moment, we do not charge as teachers either, because this is in the long term”says Diego Valladares, the team’s coach.

For him Down Peru Collective It was quite difficult to find an institution that can house the boys so that they can develop this sporting activity. and it has been academic the first club that has opened its doors to him. However, it is expected that this initiative will be extended to the other teams in the country.

not only through futsal, they can also do it in soccer, in basketball, which is what Universitario de Deportes is aspiring to take a little step forward”Valladares comments.

A technician who aspires to change

the dreams of Diego Valladares They have always been accompanied by a ball. The current coach of the ‘U’ team for people with Down syndrome was a national futsal player:

One day, a coach of his in the youth team made him understand that there are many things that are not being done well in the sport of our country, which have to be changed. From then on, Valladares decided to study Sports Sciences to contribute his grain of sand to the change he aspires to.

“In our country, sport is poorly structured. Unfortunately, if you have had the ability to play professionally, they have or can teach. And it is not like that. I believe that the people who are prepared are the ones who should be in charge of a good training of both older minors and people who really need this activity”Explain.

“I have specialized in sports initiation with children from 3 years old to 12 years old. That’s my specialty. I see everything that is the psychomotor part and I was very struck by the structure that had been put together at that time in Alianza Lima so that children can improve their motor conditions. Because many times it is understood that the soccer academy is simply dribbling saucers, cones and playing. That should also be reformed in all academies “He says.

Since three years ago, Diego Valladares He stopped being a futsal player and coach to start a new project. It was difficult for him to step aside in the field where he was and now he focuses clearly on training players with Down syndrome at Universitario. It’s not the first time he’s done it.

His intention is to break the paradigms that are built on people with this genetic alteration. “Sport is going to allow us to show people that they can be part of our society in an equal way to us”, pronounce optimistic. From there was born his idea of ​​providing the boys, beyond the technical and tactical, emotional strength and inclusion in various activities, especially sports.

Now, for the cream trainer, with the experience behind him, it is not difficult for him to work with people with Down syndrome, quite the opposite. He is quite grateful for the opportunity.

“I’ve always been told that if you already handle children, you can handle any type of person. The truth is that for me it is not difficult to work with them, because they understand you and understand (…) So, that makes one comfortable working with them”highlights.

The passion in the DNA

If there is something to highlight about this special futsal team, it is their unbeatable passion. The fact of belonging to a club as big as Universitario de Deportes gives the necessary motivation to the 14 protagonists of this story. They recognize that they are not standing anywhere, they represent the ‘cream’ and that is not negotiated.

“The boys are very passionate about playing futsal and very passionate about representing the club. They know that they are in the University and not everyone gets to where they are. ”Valladares describes.

The important thing is also that everyone supports each other, beyond sports. Nobody gets left behind. They are all well united and thus, in the midst of any adversity that may arise with anyone, there will always be friendly hands for generous help. “On the emotional side, they are guys who will always watch over the well-being of everyone around them”expresses the coach.

In this context, the most valuable for Diego Valladares is that, through their teachings, this team can learn a life lesson. Titles and achievements take a backseat. Of course, the intention is also that the boys can be recognized by the fans of the ‘U’ due to the contribution they make and will make in the future for the club.

“Perhaps everything that we teach them in their day to day life can be forgotten, but they will never ever forget how you have made them feel in these training sessions, if you were good to them or if you made their day. So for me as a coach, it’s important to make them feel good and make them feel part of our society.”sentence.

A World Cup event and future challenges

Since the creation of this Universitario futsal team was made official, the 14 boys with Down syndrome have not stopped training until exhaustion to show all their talent.

, which means extra motivation for the players. With the encouragement of their people, the ‘U’ players —along with those selected from other foundations— will try to do their best to bring joy to the country.

Currently, the cream team is only training two days a week at the Lolo Fernández Stadium. The purpose is not to overload the eight pre-selected boys on the squad, who are already preparing with the Peruvian team three times a week for the World Cup, he tells us

The sports break of more than a year that the team faced, due to the coronavirus pandemic coronavirus, considerably affected the national team. However, in recent months, the evolution of the players has been quite optimal, both physically and tactically.

“Physically they came back badly and they also forgot some futsal concepts (…) The boys are competing, not with people with down syndrome, but with women’s teams, junior futsal teams, so they can have a brush. Because if we go to a World Cup and we talk about Brazil, Italy, Turkey, who are Down syndrome futsal powers, then we have to arrive with adequate preparation “Valladares says.

The expectations for the World Cup are quite high. The fact that it takes place in our country has motivated Diego Valladores and Giancarlo Zárate to set ambitious goals for the event, although always with due caution.

“The first step is to be able to qualify in the group stage. Then the second goal is to get into the top four. And if things happen, to be able to obtain a title for our country, which is the most important thing”points out the ‘U’ technician.

After the World Cup, the action will continue for players with Down syndrome.

In fact, the Down Peru Collective It began with these efforts of the creation of the National League since 2019, organizing various tournaments in Lima until today. In addition, the fact that this organization is a member of the International Football Federation for Down syndrome has given the country the opportunity to host the World Cup.

Last year, in alliance with the Municipality of Lima, the second metropolitan tournament was held.

academic will be one of the teams participating in the competition with the aim of winning the first title in this discipline. “It will be nice”expresses Diego Valladares.