Grade 12 Brooks Secondary School student Duncan MacDonald is a member of Canada’s Para Soccer National Team that plays Brazil in the opening game of the upcoming 2017 Cerebral Palsy Football World Championship in San Luis, Argentina.
“The best teams in the world will be there,” said Duncan, 16. “We were put in the group with Brazil, Ireland and Spain. It's a tough group but we're excited to play them.”
To be eligible for the world championships, a player must have a certain disability, according to Duncan’s father, Powell River physician Barrie MacDonald.
“There's three different groups who can play for the team,” said Barrie. “People who have cerebral palsy, people who have had a stroke or people who have had head injuries.”
Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition that manifests itself physically, according to Barrie, and refers to physical findings that can be caused by a stroke.
A person can have some spasticity in a limb, shortening in a limb, in-turning in a limb, abnormal movements and poor coordination, according to Barrie.
Duncan suffered a stroke prior to being born.
“I have mild cerebral palsy on my left side,” said Duncan. “That means it's just a weakening of the left side. I can't move the same as everyone else.”
Players with the national para soccer team hail from different parts of the country, but mostly Ontario and BC. West Coast players have regular practices in Victoria and, similar to every Powell River athlete who strives to compete at higher levels, Duncan has to travel to train.
Duncan was with the team in Florida last month for practices and exhibition games against the United States, and to acclimatize for Argentina. The entire team is only able to practice together every month or two.
“We have training camps in Toronto where all get together,” said Duncan. “Usually, every two weeks the West Coast guys practice in Victoria.”
Canada’s national team coach and fellow Powell River native Drew Ferguson oversees the practices. He said it was good fortune that MacDonald lived in the same town as the coach.
“We knew about him early on,” said Ferguson, who has coached the team since 2005. “There was something in his body physically. We monitored him and kept an eye on him. We knew he was a good enough soccer player that if he pursued it, he'd get into the program.”
Canada’s para soccer national team is ranked 10th in the world; Brazil is ranked third.
“That will be a tough game,” said Ferguson. “It’s not the best draw for us. Ireland is going to be very hard and we’re probably equal to Spain.”
If Canada advances past the first round and into the top eight, Ferguson said it would be a huge accomplishment.
Advancing from the group stage would also be a personal high point for Duncan.
“He's always loved soccer; he's been a soccer nut forever,” said Barrie. “This has been an opportunity where he can play with people who are similarly crazy about the game.”
Cerebral Palsy Football World Championship takes place from September 3 to 23.
