last July I was selected to play for  the Great Britain Deaf Women’s football team, and since then have been working hard to get fit and prepare for the Deaflympics to be held in Melbourne, starting on the 5th of January. The Deaflympics are the equivalent of the Olympics for deaf people with 3,500 athletes from 90 countries participating in 16 different sports.

 

The GB team is expected to be 100 strong and is hoping to come back with lots of medals. It is first time that women’s football has been included in the Games, so we are already making history and we want to win too! I am so excited by it all.

 

Our first round of games against five teams in a group including Norway (6th Jan 4pm), USA, Russia, Australia and Denmark. Then the top four will go through to the semi-final…and we’re hoping to be there! I can’t wait to get playing!

 

I play either mid-field or as a forward and am really looking forward to enjoying the football and scoring some goals for GB! I am really grateful to everybody who has made this possible for me and appreciate so much being part of this team and have such a once in a lifetime experience.

 

I want to do my best for God, both on and off the pitch and very much appreciate pray for this.

 

Esther wrote this week...

The training has been very good and the team including myself are feeling so ready and certainly can't wait to start the first women football match ever in the Deaflympics Games! My body is so fresh and so hungry to get the ball and score goals. Through trainings, I had few small injuries such as muscles stiffness or tight up due with the ground which was hard and dry, but I have been to Physio and it really helped me to get better. So it is a good sign for the GB team.

Yesterday was the best moment, even the Deaflympics just only started - the opening ceremony...it was a great experience, even I can't really describe exactly how I felt when attending the Olympic Park Stadium. It was full of life, joyful and of course quite emotional in the stadium - I love looking and waving at the crowds, such as my friends and fans who support us. The ceremony was really brilliant - lots of people were taking part, such as performing, singing songs, signing, and dancing, lots of things happening. At the end, the sight was amazing as seeing the Olympic flag up and also the flame lit up. It made me realised that I really appreciated to be there to represented Great Britain for Women Football!

 

Esther asked for prayer for... 

• Travelling goes well

• I play to the best of my ability and we work really well as a team

• I am protected from injury, especially to the knee I had operated on

• I have opportunity to meet up with other deaf Christians and also witness to people about Jesus by my actions and words

• I am kept safe and have a good time after the Games as I spend a few days sightseeing, mostly in Sydney

 

More information about the deaflympics is available at...

• http://britishdeaffootball.com

• http://www.gbdeaflympics.com will be providing up to the minute information on the GB team.

•  http://deaflympics.com