Il Nuovo Postiglione - Colombia's Paralympic 'Blind Falcao' has the right psychology

Gonzalez, who celebrated his 27th birthday on the day of the opening ceremony, is known as the 'Blind Falcao' -- a label he is more than happy with as the former star Colombian international striker Radamel Falcao is his idol.

Indeed Falcao's nickname of "The Tiger" was a fair description of Gonzalez's performance in the spectacular arena with the Eiffel Tower providing a postcard-like backdrop.

Psychology classes may be working on calming him down on the pitch but he still put in some crunching tackles -- shouting the traditional warning in five-a-side blind football of "voy", or "I'm going" -- and like his hero also showed some deft touches.

"He's a superstar for me," said Gonzalez of Falcao.

"A magazine did an interview with me and they called me 'Colombia's blind Falcao'.

"I am pleased with the nickname as he's been my idol since he started his career professionally."

As he explained through an interpreter, he is studying psychology for other reasons.

"My interest is to help other people, mostly other athletes, so this attracted me," he said.

"However, I have also discovered since I started studying psychology, my temper on the pitch has calmed down, so I have more control on the pitch."

Gonzalez was not born blind and it was on the football pitch the accident that changed his life occurred.

"When I was 12, I was at a football training session," said Gonzalez.

"I collided with another player and my cornea was finished. It just popped."

- 'Keep more silent' -

Gonzalez -- who like all the outfield players wear eye patches and shades while , the goalkeepers are the exception as they can see -- can only dream of ever earnings the millions that Falcao has made in his career.

However, he has credited para sports for changing his life and he is delighted he brings pleasure and pride in donning the Colombia shirt to his family and especially his mother, Elvia.

"I was born in a very poor environment," said Gonzalez, whose full name is Jhon Eider Gonzalez Hernandez.

"I couldn't give my mother what I wanted, so my dream is to have a house so she can live in it and I can be calm about her security."

Brazil may be the hot favourites having won the title on every occasion since blind football made its first outing in Athens in 2004, but Colombia showed enough to suggest they could be medal contenders.

Gonzalez was unable to get on the scoresheet, that honour fell to the equally skillful Juan Perez, who scored a sublime goal in the first half soon after hitting the post.

The sell-out crowd were pretty disciplined during the match as they are meant to keep silent during open play -- this allows the players to hear the rattle in the ball.

Perez, who after scoring the goal was lifted in the air by his goalkeeper Jhohan Ardila who ran the length of the pitch to do so, said it made life complicated for them on the pitch.

"A little bit tricky, when we lost the ball in attack, we couldn't hear the ball," he said.

"So, if the crowd can keep more silent it would be great but of course they can do a big sound when we score goals!"

For both Perez and Gonzalez, though, playing in front of such a big crowd also brought pleasure.

"Yes, I am happy," said Perez.

"I have never played in a stadium like this. This means that blind people's football keeps growing, and spectators can witness how blind people can play like any other."

E.Danieli--INP