On Saturday, the court at Uhuru Mchanganyiko Primary School filled with the sound of a ringing ball, calling voices, and laughter — as visually impaired children learned to play football by ear, and to trust the pass.
On Saturday, 25 July 2026, Cheza Foundation held a blind football and passing-skills training session at Uhuru Mchanganyiko Primary School in Dar es Salaam. Forty-six children took part — 26 boys and 20 girls — many of them visually impaired, and every one of them ready to play.
Blind football is played with a special ball that contains bells, so athletes can follow it by sound. Our coaches guided the children through the fundamentals: listening for the ball, calling to teammates, controlling it at their feet, and moving with confidence across the pitch.
The heart of the day was passing. A good pass in blind football is an act of pure trust — you send the ball toward a teammate you cannot see, guided only by their voice. Learning to give and receive that pass builds communication, timing, and teamwork that reach far beyond the game.
For many of these children, it was a rare chance to run, compete, and simply play — to be seen not as fragile, but as footballers. The confidence that grows on the pitch travels home with them, into the classroom and the community.
Sessions like this are the CHEZANASI spirit in motion — "play with us." Our thanks to Uhuru Mchanganyiko Primary School for opening its grounds, and to every child who showed up, listened, called, and played. We will be back.
