PARIS, Sept 1, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Jhon Gonzalez said studying for a 
psychology degree has calmed him down on the pitch and the fruits of that 
were plain to see as Colombia opened their Paralympics blind football 
campaign with a 1-0 victory over Japan on Sunday.

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."