Our next player spotlight as part of All-Abilities April is Victorian Paralympic Football Program participant Ori Drabkin, who is entering his third year playing football.
The Victorian cerebral palsy team participates in the Football Victoria All-Abilities League and caters to players with Cerebral Palsy, Acquired Brain Injury, or stroke-related impairments.
Ori Drabkin said the program has been “really good” as everyone there is just like him.
“I was about the same skill level as everyone else and it was just really fun straight away,” he explained.
“We already knew that para sport was a thing, and we were really happy with it, but I still had no idea it was a thing in football.
I went in really happy to be there regardless of whether I was going to succeed or not because it was a team environment and that was something I had not done for a long time.”
The All-Abilities season starts on April 29 and consists of matches every fortnight with training sessions taking place in between matches.
The Victorian cerebral palsy team has been training for a couple weeks with Ori itching for the games to begin.
“The teams are limited but it is always a great rivalry when we come up against them,” he explained.
“This year we have a few gala days and then we go straight into the league so hopefully we are all fit and ready to go.”
Ori previously participated in athletics and has been able to translate his skillset over to a team sport seamlessly.
“Playing football has always been really fun, but I think the main reason I switched from athletics was because it was a team sport but also because it was a para sport and I wanted to try it out,” he said.
“I really think my experience from athletics has helped with my speed on the field.
“The best part when I face someone one on one and I get past them with a bit of speed, I think that is the most exciting part. When I am creating an opportunity or doing something good for the team because when you play for the team you don’t want to let the team down.”
Ori aspires to rise through the para football ranks in the coming seasons, hoping to represent his state and even country.
“I’d be happy playing at the level I am for the rest of time, but the more I am playing I am seeing guys around even pretty young ones from Victoria going to the Pararoos,” he said.
“Once in a while, they are missing because they are at a camp, and I had sort of thought I do want to do that one day.
“I saw them play against the United States of America in February this year and it looked pretty exciting, I think it would be pretty epic to pull on the green and gold.”
Despite only having spent a short time playing the game, Ori suggested anybody thinking of playing should give the All-Abilities League a go.
“For me, it doesn’t matter if that’s what you’re looking for, you should just try everything,” he stated.
“If you don’t try it your not going to know, it’s better to try something than not try at all.
"Whether or not football works for you it is so worth it, the team is epic over here."
In exciting news, Australia has been confirmed as the host of the men’s and women’s 2023 IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships (Para Asian Cup) following a decision made by the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football.
It will be the first time ever a women’s Para Asian Cup competition will be contested and will also mark the first time the men’s and women’s Para Asian Cup will be held at the same time. The newly constructed Home of the Matildas facility at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Victoria will host the tournament from October 31- November 12, 2023.