Bangladesh launches first-ever Junior Amputee Football Programme, empowering young athletes through sport

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.