Footballer Michael Essien is the latest star to put his name behind Rollaball.This documentary-in-progress tells the inspiring story of The Rolling Rockets – a team of Ghanaian polio survivors who are pioneering an extreme sport combination of skating and soccer.
Rollaball is currently crowdsourcing production funding via a 30-day campaign on Kickstarter, the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects.
“Skate soccer is one of the most inspiring forms of the beautiful game I've seen and shows how the sport can be adapted and enjoyed by anyone,” says Essien, who recently moved to Real Madrid on loan from Chelsea.
“These athletes' determination, strength and creativity is inspiring and makes me proud to be Ghanaian. I hope the Rollaball documentary will give them the exposure they deserve and I look forward to seeing Ghana host an African Cup of Nations for skate soccer in the near future.”
Michael’s endorsement follows similar shows of support from the likes of AC Milan midfielder and Ghanaian international Sulley Muntari; paralympian Anne Wafula Strike; World Cup Skateboarding; and Australia’s National Skateboarders Association.
“Michael’s endorsement is an inspiration for the entire team and makes us even more determined to host the first Skate Soccer Cup of Nations in Ghana next year,” says Albert K Frimpong, coach of The Rolling Rockets and executive director of SYDOGhana (Sports and Youth Development Organisation).
Big World Cinema’s Steven Markovitz is producing the documentary, which won the Puma Creative Catalyst Award in partnership with BRITDOC, and has already been featured as a Kickstarter Staff Pick and on the curated Kickstarter pages of both Good Pitch and Okayafrica.
Markovitz co-founded Encounters, Africa’s most prestigious documentary festival; co-produced MTV’s Best African Movie 2010, Viva Riva!; and is producing the upcoming Jambula Tree, winner of the Arte Prize for Best Feature Film Project at Durban International Film Festival 2012.
Rollaball is being directed by Eddie Edwards, who also helmed the award-winning sports documentary The Fight, about South African boxing champion Andile Tshongolo.
To help make the completed documentary possible, visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rollaballmovie/rollaball-skate-soccer. Pledges start from as little as $10.
As part of his endorsement, Essien has donated five autographed 10x12inch photographs of him taken after his Champions League victory. This reward is exclusive to the first five people to pledge $600, who will also receive Batik cloth wrap from Ghana; a box set of four DVDs from Africa; special thanks on the film end credits; and a digital download of the completed film, among other perks.
The Kickstarter campaign ends on 22 September. Edwards says: “If the full target of $35 000 isn’t raised, Kickstarter will not charge any of the contributors, meaning that we won’t receive any of the funding needed to complete production, so please help us spread the word. Thank you for your support; we can’t do this without you.”
f you've never heard of
Skate soccer, that could soon change.
Skate soccer has taken hold in parts of West Africa, but a new
documentary, Rollaball, is in the works that aims to elevate the sport
and its participants to paralympic status.
Skate soccer is a fast and physical team sport which combines soccer,
skating and handball. It is played by people with physical disabilities,
who roll around the field (a concrete surface) on homemade skateboards,
trying to put the ball in the back of the net. Like soccer, the team
that does not have the ball will do whatever it takes to prevent that
from happening.
Competitions are already being held at both club and international
levels.
"The first game of skate soccer was in Lagos, Nigeria, but it’s now
spread throughout West Africa, Albert K. Frimpong, coach of The Rolling
Rockets, said. "We played our first international game recently against
Nigeria and are hoping to host an Africa Cup of Nations next year."
Rollaball tells the story of the Rolling Rockets -- a team of Ghanaian
polio survivors -- who find a new sense of purpose and dignity through
playing the sport. During the games, these skate soccer pioneers become
sports heroes in their communities, despite living with the stigma of
polio and homelessness.
Rollaball director Eddie Edwards spoke about the everyday challenges
skate soccer players face. He hopes the movie will help them improve
their lives, according to a press release.
"When I first met the team two years ago, I knew they were something
special," Edwards said. "These guys face massive challenges off the
pitch, as polio is still stigmatized in Ghana, so many of them live on
the streets and beg for a living. But despite all the odds, they’re
incredible athletes who deserve to be stars. They have inspired
something in me and I believe they’ll inspire many others. Both on and
off the field, their stories are legendary."
Producers are currently crowdsourcing funding to help complete the
documentary project, and a 30-day campaign is under way on Kickstarter.
Read more at: http://www.nesn.com/2012/09/ghanaian-polio-survivors-pioeneer-skate-soccer-in-rollaball-documentary-video.html
Read more at: http://www.nesn.com/2012/09/ghanaian-polio-survivors-pioeneer-skate-soccer-in-rollaball-documentary-video.html
never heard of
Skate soccer, that could soon change.
Skate soccer has taken hold in parts of West Africa, but a new
documentary, Rollaball, is in the works that aims to elevate the sport
and its participants to paralympic status.
Skate soccer is a fast and physical team sport which combines soccer,
skating and handball. It is played by people with physical disabilities,
who roll around the field (a concrete surface) on homemade skateboards,
trying to put the ball in the back of the net. Like soccer, the team
that does not have the ball will do whatever it takes to prevent that
from happening.
Competitions are already being held at both club and international
levels.
"The first game of skate soccer was in Lagos, Nigeria, but it’s now
spread throughout West Africa, Albert K. Frimpong, coach of The Rolling
Rockets, said. "We played our first international game recently against
Nigeria and are hoping to host an Africa Cup of Nations next year."
Rollaball tells the story of the Rolling Rockets -- a team of Ghanaian
polio survivors -- who find a new sense of purpose and dignity through
playing the sport. During the games, these skate soccer pioneers become
sports heroes in their communities, despite living with the stigma of
polio and homelessness.
Rollaball director Eddie Edwards spoke about the everyday challenges
skate soccer players face. He hopes the movie will help them improve
their lives, according to a press release.
"When I first met the team two years ago, I knew they were something
special," Edwards said. "These guys face massive challenges off the
pitch, as polio is still stigmatized in Ghana, so many of them live on
the streets and beg for a living. But despite all the odds, they’re
incredible athletes who deserve to be stars. They have inspired
something in me and I believe they’ll inspire many others. Both on and
off the field, their stories are legendary."
Producers are currently crowdsourcing funding to help complete the
documentary project, and a 30-day campaign is under way on Kickstarter.
Read more at: http://www.nesn.com/2012/09/ghanaian-polio-survivors-pioeneer-skate-soccer-in-rollaball-documentary-video.html
Read more at: http://www.nesn.com/2012/09/ghanaian-polio-survivors-pioeneer-skate-soccer-in-rollaball-documentary-video.html
If you've never heard
of Skate soccer, that could soon change.
Skate soccer has taken hold in parts of West Africa, but a new
documentary, Rollaball, is in the works that aims to elevate the sport
and its participants to paralympic status.
Skate soccer is a fast and physical team sport which combines soccer,
skating and handball. It is played by people with physical disabilities,
who roll around the field (a concrete surface) on homemade skateboards,
trying to put the ball in the back of the net. Like soccer, the team
that does not have the ball will do whatever it takes to prevent that
from happening.
Competitions are already being held at both club and international
levels.
"The first game of skate soccer was in Lagos, Nigeria, but it’s now
spread throughout West Africa, Albert K. Frimpong, coach of The Rolling
Rockets, said. "We played our first international game recently against
Nigeria and are hoping to host an Africa Cup of Nations next year."
Rollaball tells the story of the Rolling Rockets -- a team of Ghanaian
polio survivors -- who find a new sense of purpose and dignity through
playing the sport. During the games, these skate soccer pioneers become
sports heroes in their communities, despite living with the stigma of
polio and homelessness.
Rollaball director Eddie Edwards spoke about the everyday challenges
skate soccer players face. He hopes the movie will help them improve
their lives, according to a press release.
"When I first met the team two years ago, I knew they were something
special," Edwards said. "These guys face massive challenges off the
pitch, as polio is still stigmatized in Ghana, so many of them live on
the streets and beg for a living. But despite all the odds, they’re
incredible athletes who deserve to be stars. They have inspired
something in me and I believe they’ll inspire many others. Both on and
off the field, their stories are legendary."
Producers are currently crowdsourcing funding to help complete the
documentary project, and a 30-day campaign is under way on Kickstarter.
Read more at: http://www.nesn.com/2012/09/ghanaian-polio-survivors-pioeneer-skate-soccer-in-rollaball-documentary-video.html
Read more at: http://www.nesn.com/2012/09/ghanaian-polio-survivors-pioeneer-skate-soccer-in-rollaball-documentary-video.html
