Before coming here, I didn’t know I could play football again. Now I feel strong and free — this field gave me my confidence back.

Sathi, 14

For Sathi, Lamia, Sifat, and 25 other young athletes, the Junior Amputee Football Programme was more than just a game. It was a place where they could rediscover courage, experience belonging, and celebrate what they can do — not what they cannot.

For five days in October, the Shaheed Farhan Faiyaz Playground, nestled in the middle of the bustling capital city of Dhaka, turned into a sanctuary for young athletes with disabilities from across the country. An inclusive sports facility dedicated to persons with disabilities, the Playground came alive with laughter and camaraderie, as a motley group of 28 players joined a football training camp, their determination resonating in the rhythmic thuds of footballs.

Organized by Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), this historic camp marked the first-ever junior amputee football programme in Asia. Guided by the National Paralympic Committee of Bangladesh (NPC) and the World Amputee Football Federation (WAFF), it provided a platform where young athletes with limb loss could reclaim their confidence and step into a world of possibilities. The five-day camp was a vibrant mix of excitement and learning. Laughter and cheers echoed across the field as participants encouraged one another, shared tips, and celebrated every goal and every small victory. The atmosphere was electric — a place where physical challenges did not define the them, but where determination, teamwork, and joy took centre stage.

For these young athletes - 24 of them boys and girls between 12-18 - football is more than a recreation. It is a pathway to independence, resilience, and social belonging. On the field, they are recognized for their abilities, not their disabilities. Through shared experiences, they form friendships, find courage, and begin to change how society sees them. And their families also share in the joy, witnessing transformation beyond the game, as Karina’s mother reflects: “My daughter has not smiled this much in years. Seeing her play, fall, laugh, and get back up — it was the best moment for our family.”