This archive report was first published on 19 September 2021.
On September 15, 2021, Kenya's Yahe Badhir scored a brace against Mali in the Africa Deaf Ball Games Qualifiers at Nyayo National Stadium, but Kenya ultimately lost 4-2.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the inaugural Africa Deaflympics Ball Games Qualifiers in Nairobi is how deaf or hearing-impaired players follow instructions while playing. The answer lies in a unique approach to communication.
Unlike traditional football, deaf referees use flags to signal their calls, raising them at the sound of every whistle to alert players. They also use sign language to communicate with the players.
Before participating in the games, all athletes undergo audiological testing to determine their level of hearing. They must provide evidence of a hearing loss of 55dB or more in their better ear to be eligible to compete.
Some players wear cochlear implants, but these are not allowed during competition periods. In the past, some athletes have been caught pretending to have hearing loss issues when they do not.
Communication breakdown is a significant challenge in deaf ball games, particularly when it comes to sign language. Different regions have their own sign languages, making it difficult for players to communicate with match officials.
According to Isaac Hamisi, one of the tournament's referees, handling deaf matches is not a significant challenge. 'Since all players are deaf, they communicate in sign language. We raise the flag to notify them of a call. The rest is normal,' he explained.
The Deaflympics Games in Nairobi have attracted a record 11 countries, including hosts Kenya, Mali, Ghana, Zanzibar, and Somaliland.
