Israel’s Toto Equals football team won fourth place in the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup on Saturday after being the first Israeli team to participate in the tournament.
The Toto Equals, which consisted of nine Special Olympics athletes with disabilities and seven Unified partners without disabilities, competed against teams from 11 other nations.
The team’s striker, Tomer Gini, was the tournament’s top scorer, netting 10 goals for the Israeli team and winning the Golden Boot.
The team faced significant challenges as four players, including Gini, were injured throughout the championships but continued to play, winning games against China and the United Arab Emirates.
During the championship’s semi-finals, the Toto Equals lost to the Jamaican and Paraguayan teams, ultimately finishing in fourth place overall.
The team’s coach, Ofir Haim, stated that he was proud of each player for persevering despite the challenges.
“This delegation proved that the heart is greater than any challenge,” Haim asserted, adding that the team “represented the State of Israel with great honor and gave their all on the field.”
Special Olympics Israel CEO, Sharon Levy-Blanga, expressed her gratitude for Haim’s dedication and described Israel’s inaugural participation in the tournament as a “historic journey.”
“The players showed the world what perseverance, friendship, and belief in one’s abilities are. We return to Israel not only with champions in football but also with champions in promoting values of tolerance, patience, inclusion, and respect for others,” Levy-Blanga stated.
Source:
www.jpost.com
