Michael Owen hopes for more exposure of ‘absolutely incredible’ partially sighted football after TNT Sports documentary
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Published 26/01/2024 at 15:45 GMT
Former England striker Michael Owen says he was surprised by the “incredible skill” of visually impaired football after completing a documentary for TNT Sports with his son James, who has a degenerative eye condition. James spent time with England’s partially sighted futsal team as they built up to the 2023 IBSA World Games. The programme debuts on TNT Sports 1 on Tuesday, January 30 from 11pm.
Football is for Everyone
Image credit: Eurosport
Former England striker Michael Owen says he’s astounded by “how incredibly talented” visually impaired footballers are, after spending time with England’s partially sighted futsal team along with son James for a new documentary on TNT Sports.
‘Football is for Everyone’ will premiere on TNT Sports 1 at 11pm UK time on Tuesday, January 30. It follows James, who has a chronic eye condition, as he meets England’s partially sighted futsal team ahead of the 2023 IBSA World Games.
James has Stargardt disease, which the National Eye Institute describes as a “genetic eye disease that happens when fatty material builds up on the macula - the small part of the retina needed for sharp, central vision”. The most common symptom is a “slow loss of central vision in both eyes.”
Michael hopes the documentary with his son will bring more exposure to visually impaired football.
“The skill level is absolutely incredible,” he told TNT Sports.
“A lot of people I’m sure think ‘it’s disabled sport, it must be a rubbish standard, I don’t fancy watching it’ - but it’s incredible how talented these players are.
“I hope it gets the exposure it deserves, I hope it continues to grow.
“Decent people, which is most people in this world, like to see inclusivity, like to see everyone get a fair crack of the whip.
“James got to meet a lot of people in his boat, made friends, and we went on an incredible journey.
“We live with James’ condition and all the exposure to that is good exposure. We’re not hiding anything, we go about it without any complaints - James in particular."
For Michael’s son, who is now 17, the process of filming the documentary allowed him to interact with people who live daily with a similar condition, for the first time in his life.
“I’d never met anyone with an eye condition before then, it was nice to see everyone in the same boat,” said James.
“The standard was really good, it blew me away. I got straight into playing with them and got my bum whooped.
“I’d never even heard of visually impaired football. I just presumed it was football with a blindfold and a bell in the ball.
“I didn’t know there were various types, or a sport which was right for me. I found that going through the documentary. It’s grown me as a person - I’m really proud of it.
“It impressed me how positive they were. It was a real shock being with people who are so relatable.”
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Football is for Everyone premieres on TNT Sports 1 at 11pm on January 30 and is also available on discovery+.
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