Football

Allow me to introduce myself as I have only recently been appointed the Football Technical Director for the ICSD.  My name is Christof and although I am a born and bred Englishman, my name comes from Switzerland where my family comes from.

I am quietly confident that my Swiss background will enable me to act neutral in fulfilling my duties and responsibilities within the role for the ICSD. 

Just so that everyone is clear which competitions I shall be involved in:

• World Deaf Futsal Championships, Sofia, Bulgaria:  November 2007
• World Deaf Football Championships, Athens, Greece:  July 2008
• Summer Deaflympics Football Competition, Taipei, Taiwan:  August/September 2009

At this stage, I do not have much to report as I am still getting my teeth into my new role, reading up on the recommendations from the previous football competition held at the last Summer Deaflympics in Melbourne, 2005. 

Together with my responsibilities in co-ordinating the football competitions, I shall seek to introduce a plan aimed at ensuring a fairer and clearer procedure of qualifying for future international deaf football competitions in the long term.

Please take note that the Football Technical Regulations has been revised with minor changes added.  The latest version can be viewed and/or printed at:
http://www.deaflympics.com/sports/regulations.asp?SC=Football

For any general or specific football enquiries in relation to the above competitions, please email me at footballtd@ciss.org

Please feel free to email me any deaf football enquires to:

• ask about the above deaf football competitions
• clarify about any deaf football technical or non-technical queries
• express your honest opinion and suggestions for improvements

Although I have new ideas to progress and develop deaf international football, I really would like to hear from you with your first hand experiences and suggestions.

Great Britain Women Bronze medallist (Melbourne 2005), Sarah Davies, 19 years old, was tragically killed in a road accident last month.  She was a popular and talented player respected by her team mates and opponents worldwide.  Sarah’s Great Britain number 15 shirt has now been withdrawn from all future matches as a mark of respect, which is a nice and ultimate gesture by her team mates.  Sarah’s obituary can be read at www.britishdeaffootball.com

All of us at ICSD would like to pass on our condolences to Sarah’s family.

I would like to thank UK Deaf Sport for their support towards my enthusiasm to be the ICSD Football Technical Director.  I look forward to the challenges ahead to co-ordinate the deaf football competitions and also with the assistance of each deaf sports federations, we can together empower deaf football on a national and international scale.

Finally, I would like to thank those of you who have expressed your good wishes at my recent appointment.

Regards

Christof Niklaus
ICSD Technical Director - Football