Each Thursday we want to put the spotlight on a person involved with goalball – from players, officials to coaches, or anyone!
This week we caught up with Mohammed Javid!
What club do you play for or coach?
I play for Kirklees.
How did you discover goalball?
I attended Moor End School in Huddersfield which had a VI unit. In Year 7, we went to visit Temple Bank School (which was a special school for blind and partially sighted students) and tried goalball. We really enjoyed it so set up a school team and started taking part in BBS tournaments. I think it was in 1994 when we beat Babington (from Leicestershire) in the National Schools final. Over 25 years later, I’m still playing with some of the original members of that team now!
Is there a particular song, artist, or genre that you listen to before a tournament to get in the mood? Or anything you’re loving now?
‘Eye of the tiger’ sticks in my memory as a song we used to listen to! Now, I don’t really listen to music.
Do you have any pre-game superstitions or rituals?
I used to get nervous before games – I never understood what people meant about ‘having butterflies in your stomach’ until I started playing goalball! – but now I’m just really relaxed before games.
Do you have a favourite post-match meal?
I like a chicken biryani with raita.
Which goalball player do you admire the most and why?
Barrie Lane who everyone knew as Buz. He played for West Midlands and GB Men. He had an incredibly powerful shot. Playing against him, certainly as a young teenager, taught you how to defend and how to be brave!
Outside of goalball, what other hobbies/sports do you do?
I enjoy playing cricket. I also enjoy listening to audio books, especially detective novels although I must admit that I like Harry Potter as well!
Finally, what place, anywhere in the world, is on your bucket list to visit and why?
I really like going to Kashmir. It is beautiful and clean with fresh mountain air, although it is very cold in the winter and there is no central heating to warm yourself up!