How Pararoo Benny Roche is developing sports programs for kids with disabilities

How Benny rose up the ranks in disability sport

Benny began his rise in disability sport at the revered Sydney Paralympic Games in 2000 when he watched the Pararoos (the Australian men’s Paralympic soccer team) take to the field. Not long after, while on a family holiday in Canberra, Benny boldly slipped a note over the reception desk at the Australian Institute of Sport. On the note was his name, phone number, and this message: "Can this somehow please get to the [Paralympic] football team? I'd love to learn more about it." 

Only months later, he received a phone call from the head coach who invited Benny to attend a training camp. “I fell in love with it pretty quickly. It became a driving force in wanting to take football more seriously,” Benny told Hireup over a phone call. 

At age 15, Benny played his first tournament. He’s since represented Australia 54 times over 17 years around the world. But while Benny was having success with the Pararoos, locally, he was “really struggling for opportunities and facing a few experiences that weren't particularly pleasant.”

Kicking off sports programs for kids with disabilities

So in the mid-2000s, Benny helped kick off the Victorian Paralympic football program - a sports program for kids with disabilities, which was initially also open to non-disabled people. Eventually it has become a pathway for people with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, or symptoms resulting from stroke that want to play for the Pararoos.

“I think with many inclusive programs, it takes a lot of time. I reckon we had maybe four or five players for the first few years and the same number of dedicated volunteers. It's now at the point where we have over 35 players, we've had players head into the Pararoos, but what's probably the coolest is the community they've created,” says Benny.  

“The playing group, but also the parents as well. We have kids travel as far as Mildura, which is a good six hours away. I think for me that was the first step in seeing what disability specific programs could really do for people.”

Since developing the Victorian Paralympic football program, Benny has also developed, advised, consulted, and advocated for other sports programs for kids with disabilities, including: All Abilities Football in Victoria and individual football clubs.

“I think for so long, clubs and federations felt they had to follow this certain rule book. It had to be a certain number of players and within a certain age group.”

“When I helped launch the first all-abilities football league, it was a really interesting experience because it was working with people with a range of disabilities, physical and intellectual, but we wanted to offer an opportunity for boys, girls and people of all ages to play competitive football rather than just a social kick around.”

“It ended up being a perfect match up, just by being a bit more adaptable with it.”

Meeting up and coming players

While helping a local sports program for kids with disabilities get started, Benny met aspiring soccer player Kaylan. 

“Being able to play at my local club means I’m a part of a team,” says Kaylan, who is 15 years old. “I can improve my skills… I also get to play with my mates from school.” 

Since meeting each other, Kaylan has been to watch the Pararoos train in Victoria, attended a  documentary release about the team, and was in the crowd at the Pararoos first home game in 2019. And this year he was flown to Sydney to join a Pararoo’s camp.

Kaylan says the highlight of the camp was that “I learnt to always be prepared and work hard to reach my goals. I also learnt to be a good person and what it takes to represent your country.” 

“I always look up to him [Benny Roche] and I always will. One day I would like to be like him and represent Australia. He’s been an inspiration and role model.”

Benny says it’s stories like Kaylan’s that make you “know it’s worthwhile.” 

“That step by step progression of learning about [sports programs for kids with disability], getting involved, and then the opportunity to come train with some of the best in Australia was pretty special. Just seeing the relationships that are built from it is really special.”

"It's about setting an example that anything is possible"

In a previous interview with Pararoo.com.au, Benny has said, “When I meet families or hear from families with young kids with Cerebral Palsy there’s a moment where it clicks, they hear about it, they’re like, ‘this is awesome’.”

“Whether they choose to play football, or they want to be a banker or whatever it may be, I think it’s about setting an example that anything is possible.”

On our phone call, Benny goes further. He says that “everyone deserves that opportunity. Obviously it has an impact on the individuals with disabilities that are involved in the program but, also the broader community, also their families, there's many good things that come from it. For me, it's a bit of a no-brainer.”

“I wouldn't be where I am without sport.”

While reflecting on a recent football match played in Spain, Benny laughs as he explains that he was the oldest player on the field by eleven years, “everyone else was twenty-one!”

“It was cool because it means we're doing the right things when there are more kids coming through.”