Exclusive Interview With Kai Shah, Team Coach For GBG Knights Powerchair Football Club

Following on from our recent sponsorship of GBG Knights Powerchair Football Club, our Marketing Manager, Ellie Jarrett, was fortunate enough to speak with Kai Shah, one of their Team Coaches, to discover more about the activities of the Club and his involvement within it.

Ellie has interviewed many people throughout her time at Dakota and prior, however this was undoubtedly one of her favourite ever interviews!

Read on to discover more.

1. Please can you tell us more about the premise behind GBG Knights Powerchair Football Club?

GBG Knights Powerchair Football (PCF) Club provides players with various disabilities the opportunity to play the sport they love, get out and about socialising, make new friends and get involved in various PCF competitions. This can help those who are wheelchair-bound find more of an identity and purpose in their life if they feel that this is lacking, and help them to feel less isolated, as can unfortunately happen to many people with a disability. It helps them to build up their confidence and at the same time realise that there are other people out there exactly like them and that they are not alone.

2. In terms of competing in National Leagues, what does the Club offer?

The club is open to anyone to play. For those who want to compete at an elite level, we have a National Team currently in second place in the Optegra WFA Championship. Games can take place on an almost weekly basis during the season, so there’s a wealth of opportunity for players to practice and hone their skills. For those that are more interested in activities off the pitch, they can also get involved with website maintenance, fundraising, social media promotion and kit design, so there’s something available for everyone, no matter how they want to be involved.

3. How did you first become involved in Powerchair Football?

I was first diagnosed with Congenital Muscular Dystrophy when I was just a few weeks old, and had to undergo regular checkups as a result. It was my occupational therapist who first told me about powerchair football when I was six, but I could only start playing from the age of eight as, back then, you had to purchase your own powerchair before you could start playing. This is not necessarily the case now, as most Powerchair Football Clubs have a few spare chairs for people to use if they don’t already have one.

4. Can you describe your own Powerchair Football journey?

Having started playing powerchair football from the age of eight, I had been through various levels of competition from that age. I was seventeen years old when I joined GBG Knights Powerchair Football Club and have never looked back! This time last year, I became a Coach for the Second Team, and have been moved up to Coach for the First Team, so this is the first season whereby I have coached and played simultaneously.

5. What challenges can Powerchair Football Teams face?

As with many sports involving disabled players, the availability of funding is an ongoing issue. Because we need to hire special pitches, the cost of doing this is high. The sport therefore has to be partly funded by the players, but because only one in a thousand adults in a wheelchair have a job, this makes it extremely challenging, so outside funding is crucial. We are lucky enough to have a fantastic and energetic fundraising team within our Club, however it really is a joint effort and a lot of hard work to keep getting donations and sponsorship so that we can continue to play and be involved in the sport that we love.

6. How can businesses or individuals get behind GBG Knights Powerchair Football Club to contribute to this crucial funding? 

Donations are always appreciated, either as a one-off contribution or alternatively, sponsorship packages are also available. Donations can be made to GBG Knights PFC via www.peoplesfundraising.com/donation/gbg-knights, or to explore the range of sponsorship opportunities, please email myself at kai@goalsbeyondgrass.co.uk.

7. And finally, what message would you give to anyone considering joining a Powerchair Football Club?

My message would be – just do it! Joining a club will give you opportunity to get out there, make new, lasting friendships and get involved in something that will make a real difference to your mindset and quality of life. If anyone out there has any questions about joining any club or ours, I would be happy to answer any queries via my email address above.