Everton 'sign' teen with Down's syndrome who didn't understand why he couldn't play football

Saif Abu-Hassan conscionable wanted to play shot similar his small brothers and couldn't recognize wherefore determination wasn't a squad for him to articulation - until helium recovered Everton's Down's Syndrome team

A young lad who conscionable wanted to play shot similar his brothers was truthful arrogant to articulation a dedicated Down's syndrome squad that helium told his pals he'd been 'signed by Everton'.

Saif Abu-Hassan desperately wanted to articulation an academy similar his younger brothers, and didn't recognize wherefore determination wasn't a squad for him. That was until his household discovered Everton's dedicated Down's syndrome squad 5 years ago.

Saif, present 19, has honed his skills truthful good successful that clip that he's present the starring goalscorer for his broadside and flew to Portugal to pb them close up to the last successful the nationalist cup.

Recalling the symptom helium felt trying to explicate to Saif wherefore helium couldn't play for an academy similar his younger brothers, his dad, Aiman, told the Mirror: "Saif ever wanted to beryllium the aforesaid arsenic his brothers and was asking wherefore helium couldn't articulation an academy and play football. It was truly hard for america arsenic parents to explain. We were trying to find a squad that was suitable for his ability.

"When we took Saif helium was truthful pleased and blessed that helium was telling everyone helium had been signed by Everton." He added: "When helium goes to the games and the grooming sessions you tin spot however blessed helium is with his mates and coaches.

"We've seen his assurance turn spot by bit, erstwhile helium scores goals helium brags astir it to his brothers and each the family. He'd emotion to go the skipper and pb the squad to triumph successful the adjacent cup."

Although Saif supports Liverpool, a peculiar portion of his bosom belongs to Everton now, and was fixed immoderate lukewarm words of enactment by Toffees defender James Tarkowski.

Speaking astir the privilege of gathering radical similar Saif, James Tarkowski said: "I've been fortunate capable a fewer times to travel retired into the section assemblage to conscionable radical and fans. What this nine does for section radical is amazing.

"Days similar this are truly special. And we admit it arsenic players arsenic overmuch arsenic they do. I deliberation it's important for the enslaved betwixt players and fans and things similar this truly help, hopefully it tin spur america connected successful the coming lucifer days due to the fact that we request a fewer wins."

It came arsenic dozens of fans were invited for a footwear astir astatine the Toffees grooming crushed to observe the enactment of the club's foundation Everton successful the Community. Among them was besides lifelong Evertonian Albie Coy, 77, who told however his beloved nine saved him from crippling loneliness aft his woman was diagnosed with Alzheimers.

Albie was encouraged to articulation the Toffees' walking shot squad aft his wife, Angela, went into a attraction home. The retired foreman who worked astatine Kelloggs connected the Liverpool docks told the Mirror it was his son, Chris, who encouraged him to articulation the team.

He said: "I was successful a spot of a daze erstwhile my woman went into care, due to the fact that each of a abrupt I was connected my own. My lad suggested I articulation Everton's walking shot squad but I said, 'I haven't kicked the shot since I was astir 33'.

"He told maine 'just travel and person a look'. When I got up there, the guy, the feline that was moving it came implicit and said we're abbreviated of a player, bash you privation to play? When it was implicit I couldn't hold to get back."

He added: "It's got maine retired of the house. I'll springiness my lad 10 retired of 10 for encouraging me. He said, Dad, you're sitting successful the location each day. You're doing nothing. You've got to find things to do."

After joining the team, Albie was besides introduced to the club's Stand Together java mornings, which bring implicit 65s successful the assemblage unneurotic to combat loneliness. As good arsenic making caller friends with chap Everton fans, the nine has besides fixed Albie the assurance to reconnect with aged pals.

After discovering done societal media that his boyhood broadside were inactive gathering up successful a section pub, Albie decided to astonishment his aged teammates by dropping successful for a pint.

He said: "I walked successful and recognised a fewer of them consecutive away... I wouldn't person had the assurance to conscionable spell into the pub and conscionable backmost up with them similar that earlier joining the walking team."

Join our caller WhatsApp community and person your regular dose of Mirror Football content. We besides dainty our assemblage members to peculiar offers, promotions, and adverts from america and our partners. If you don't similar our community, you tin cheque retired immoderate clip you like. If you're curious, you tin work our Privacy Notice.