Opinion – The World is a Ball: Without arms or legs, Milagre trains young people in Morocco

This is a love story for football. Its protagonist is Moroccan and his name is Abdelkhalek El Wardi.

He was born without forearms and legs – he only has thighs. These physical limitations, however, did not prevent him from playing ball in his effort to adapt to the world.

Passionate about the sport, Abdelkhalek had a roundabout whenever he could. And, in his own way, he participated in games with other children.

He balanced and moved as best he could, but the difficulty in running, dribbling, passing and shooting was immense, so he became a goalkeeper.

He was 7 years old and, with some drive and good positioning, he avoided goals using his body and head as if they were his missing hands.

This ability to do what would be unthinkable to almost everyone caused him to one day call him the Miracle, and the moniker stuck.

Abdelkhalek grew up and, as a teenager, decided to stop playing and start coaching teams of children from his hometown, Benguerir, in central Morocco.

He even dropped out of school, alleging financial and mobility difficulties (he didn’t have a career in electric wheels), as well as a passion for football.

He said he realized that he had a vocation to teach and guide, technically and tactically, both those of his age, who were already playing, and the apprentices. Make them star candidates.

“My coaching career started in 2010 in neighborhood teams. I gained experience by participating in regional tournaments,” he said, according to news website Teller Report.

“So I was called by the direction of Raja Benguerir [equipe amadora] to oversee their youth divisions.” Under his command, youngsters are trying to attract the attention of scouts at clubs playing in the country’s first and second divisions.

People who live with Abdelkhalek Milagre, whose age was not disclosed, define his style in dealing with athletes in this way: “Rigorous and fair”.

A coach who had contact with him said he believes that, if the colleague has the opportunity to graduate as a professional, he has a chance to grow in the role.

“I can see that Abdelkhalek works with young people, he is strict in training, he doesn’t like messes,” stated Wafaa Tara. “I hope that the Moroccan Football Federation will look to these people [com deficiência] so they can get degrees in sports management.”