Blind young Kenyans learn soccer skills using Soundball device
3 min read
Blind youth in Kenya are kicking past limits with Soundball footballs that bring the game to life through sound.
In a dusty workshop in Nairobi, a quiet revolution in sports is taking place. Here, footballs that sound like no other are being handcrafted with a unique purpose—to help blind and visually impaired youth experience the joy of playing soccer.
These special “Soundballs” look much like traditional footballs, but inside, they carry a loud, rattling surprise. As they roll, they emit a clear, continuous sound that guides players who can’t see but still dream of chasing the ball across a field. The Soundball project is spearheaded by Alive and Kicking, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating inclusive sports opportunities in Kenya.
Martin Bernard, founder of Alive and Kicking, believes football should be accessible to everyone. “Everybody deserves the right to play, even if you can’t see,” he says. “We developed a way to create a ball that makes noise when it rolls so that visually impaired players can hear it and enjoy the game just as much as sighted kids do.”
Crafted by hand, each ball follows a high production standard. Bernard proudly notes that the Soundballs meet six of FIFA’s seven quality control tests, including rotation and bounce. However, the one area where they fall short is water absorption, which he admits is still a challenge.
What makes these balls unique is the internal mechanism: six flat metal compartments, each containing a small ball bearing. As the ball moves, the bearings rattle within the compartments, producing a distinctive sound. This enables players to locate the ball by ear, opening up an entirely new world of possibility for blind athletes.
Paralympic gold medalist Henry Wanyoike, who lost his sight in 1995 after a stroke, is one of the project’s biggest advocates. A decorated athlete with numerous medals to his name, Wanyoike sees the Soundball as more than just a tool—it’s a symbol of inclusion and hope.
“When we are playing with this ball, it helps us not to be left behind,” Wanyoike says. “In the past, there were very few sports available for people with disabilities. Now, innovations like the Soundball help us expand participation and increase our presence at events like the Paralympics.”
Wanyoike also highlights a broader issue: the limitations faced by visually impaired athletes in competitive sports. For instance, blind runners must depend on guides during races. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he narrowly avoided disqualification because his guide fell ill and had to be replaced last minute.
“That dependence on one guide can be risky,” he explains. “We need to be allowed more flexibility in such situations.”
At Thika School for the Blind in central Kenya, students are already embracing Soundball soccer. For 18-year-old Dennis Gitonga, who lost his sight at 14, the sport has rekindled his passion for the game. A once-competitive footballer, Dennis now finds joy and belonging on the adapted pitch.
“Playing futsal, the adapted version of football, reminds me of my past,” Gitonga says. “Even though I can’t see and I use braille, I feel included. I enjoy playing.”
Despite the enthusiasm, schools for the visually impaired often lack the infrastructure and trained coaches needed to run regular football programs. John Kariuki Njeru, a teacher at Thika School, hopes this initiative will change that.
“Learners with visual impairments have very limited games,” says Njeru. “This can be a great addition. The students enjoy it, but we need coaches and trainers to help them learn the game properly.”
To keep the program affordable and sustainable, Alive and Kicking uses locally sourced materials and funds the initiative through the sales of other football products. Although economic challenges have slowed growth, the organization remains committed to its mission.
As the balls rattle across playgrounds and school fields, the message is clear: no one should be left out of the beautiful game.
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