Amputee soccer players in Mexico train with dream of participating in their own World Cup

Players with amputated legs from the soccer team Guerreros Aztecas, or Aztec Warriors, join their canes together before playing a match with Los Dragones, or Dragons, in Mexico City, Saturday, June 7, 2014. Two World Cups of soccer will be held this year, and members of the Mexico City’s Aztec Warriors are training tirelessly with the dream of playing in one of them. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) (The Associated Press)

prev next

Players from the soccer team Guerreros Aztecas, or Aztec Warriors, who have amputated legs, get ready to play a match with Los Dragones, or the Dragons in Mexico City, Saturday, June 7, 2014. Sitting second from right is player Alejandro Balurch, 17, who had his leg amputated two years ago due to bone cancer. He practices as much as his chemotherapy will allow. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) (The Associated Press)

Osman Gonzalez takes off his prosthetic leg to play a soccer game with this team, Guerreros Aztecas, or Aztec Warriors, against Los Dragones, or the Dragons in Mexico City, Saturday, June 7, 2014. The team's goal is to reach the Amputee Soccer World Cup which will be held in Culiacan, Sinaloa from Nov. 30 to Dec. 8. Gonzalez, 31, said he lost his leg in an electrical accident when he was 23. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) (The Associated Press)

MEXICO CITY – Two World Cups of soccer will be held this year, and members of the Mexico City's Aztec Warriors are training tirelessly with the dream of playing in one of them.

Players race across the field on special crutches, dribbling and kicking fierce shots at the net. Their goal: The Amputee Soccer World Cup which will be held in Culiacan, Sinaloa from Nov. 30 to Dec. 8.

Most of the players lost a leg in car accidents or to disease. One player, Niseforo Bazan, lost a limb to a stray bullet in Guerrero state. The goaltender is missing an arm.

Some team members play while still fighting to overcome health issues. Alejandro Balurch, 17, had a leg amputated because of cancer two years ago and now practices as much as his chemotherapy will allow.

"We want to show that there are no barriers or limitations to attaining what one desires," said the coach of the Aztec Warriors, Carlos Espinosa.

Before the start of each game players remove the artificial legs they use, playing only with crutches and kicking the ball with their remaining foot.

Espinosa says that the players are practicing hard in the hopes that some of them will be chosen to join Mexico's national amputee soccer team that will play in Sinaloa.