In a show of solidarity, Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Paulo Sousa and team captain Sheran Yeini visited residents of the hostel of AKIM, the Israeli Association for the Habilitation of Children and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities, who were the target of a shooting attack this week. Sousa: "Discrimination is absolutely unacceptable"
Even with such a momentous European match looming just over the horizon, Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club continue to take their local community commitments with the utmost seriousness. In addition to ongoing partnerships with a number of community orientated organisations and regular visits to hospitals and other community welfare centres, the club took the initiative to demonstrate their solidarity with AKIM, the Israeli Association for the Habilitation of Children and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities, whose Tel Aviv hostel was the target of a shooting attack this week and whose residents have been subjected to harassment since the hostel was opened several days ago. Head coach Paulo Sousa and team captain Sheran Yeini paid a call on the hostel today and offered their support and encouragement to the residents, who clearly indicated that the visit was very much appreciated.
Sousa and Yeini spoke at length with the residents of the AKIM hostel, handed out Maccabi articles as gifts of the club and succeeded in bringing the smiles back to the residents' faces. After the visit, Paulo Sousa had this to say to the official club website: "Discrimination is one of the world's great afflictions today. When I heard about the shooting incident from people at the club this morning I was shocked. We came here today to show our support for these people and to spread the message that discrimination is an absolutely unacceptable phenomenon that must be eradicated at the root. I met here wonderful people full of joie de vivre, love and respect for their fellows. If you expect to receive respect you must also respect others. I'm happy we had the opportunity to brighten up their lives a bit after what they've been through in the past few days".
Team skipper Sheran Yeini invited the residents to attend Maccabi's Sunday evening match against Hapoel Haifa at Netanya Stadium and summed up the visit: "There must be no place for discrimination in our society. We felt a need to give these remarkable people an encouraging hug and bring them a bit of joy. We're very happy we succeeded in doing at least that".
AKIM is a national organisation founded by the parents of intellectually disabled children who decided to take control of their children’s lives and promote their quality of life. AKIM believe that every individual, including those with an intellectual disability, deserves to have a rich, fulfilling life, and access to education, housing, employment and leisure activities. AKIM work toward the empowerment and self-advocacy of intellectually disabled children and adults and their integration as equals into broader community life.
