The first All-African Amputee Football Tournament is taking place in Sierra Leone.
Many players lost their limbs as a result of atrocities during wars, gun-shot wounds or land-mines. Sierra Leone are the experienced favourites, but Ghana and Liberia have been training hard and could cause an upset. The winners go throught to the world cup, later this year.
Coach
Coach Kemoh Sheriff lived with amputee footballers in a displaced persons' camp after the war.
"One day I went to the beach and saw them training without a coach. They all know me and asked me to train them." Having picked up some coaching tips from trips to England, he drills them mercilessly at practice sessions. Rumours that the Nigerian team have received some tips from Nigerian stars have made him work them harder. "We need victory. I know we will win."
Dream
Jim Frere has a dream to fill the national stadium with football fans for the final on Valentine's Day. An ex-UK police officer. He helped secure Fifa funding for the event. "The dream is now a reality. Look at what it means to people here: all they need is a pair of sticks and a ball. They have fitness, strength and skill: these are athletes. It stops them being second-class citizens."
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