Partially sighted man's 'pinch me' futsal moment

The student said he could not wait to start playing in the tournament in Antalya

A student has flown to Turkey to play in the England squad at the Partially Sighted Futsal European Championships, calling it a real "pinch-me" moment.

Jake Heasman, 20, who lives in Sheffield, is visually impaired after being diagnosed with a slow-growing brain tumour called optic nerve glioma when he was two years old.

Growing up in Crowborough, East Sussex, he played mainstream football as a child but became frustrated when his sight meant he could no longer clearly see to the end of the pitch.

He was introduced to futsal - a five-a-side game played on an indoor court - through Brighton and Hove Albion FC - and said the opportunities for people with a disability in sport "blows him away".

Mr Heasman, who studies at the University of Sheffield, said his condition was picked up when he had two seizures when he was two years old.

"I had an MRI scan and that detected I had a brain tumour," he said. "I had two rounds of chemotherapy - one when I was two and one when I was seven and fortunately they that shrank the tumour.

"My family were a huge support for me then and they are now."

Fifa estimates futsal is now played by more than 30 million people worldwide

Futsal - which originated in Uruguay - is a fast-paced five-a-side game played in tight spaces, with a heavier ball.

Fifa estimates it is now played by more than 30 million people worldwide.

Mr Heasman said lots of aspects of his sight had been affected and good communication between players was essential to do well in the game.

He said: "My short-sighted vision isn't very good. My distance vision isn't very good either, so if someone was to stand a couple of metres away from me I couldn't really tell who they are just from looking at them.

"I might go off their voice or their body shape or things that I pick out personally."

'Long time coming'

He added: "It blows me away that there are opportunities out there, not just for me but for lots of people with various disabilities, to do the sport that they love.

"I can't wait to get going now, it has been a long time coming - it really is a pinch myself moment."

The Partially Sighted Futsal European Championship takes place in Antalya from 1-11 November.

England get their campaign under way against hosts Turkey on 5 November before taking on Italy the next day.

They then play Ukraine on 7 November before finishing the group campaign against Spain on 8 November.

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