Francis lost his sight when he was 19. Now, 48, he's married and has quite a normal life, travelling, doing some sport, going out with friends and whatever anyone can do. Even going to the football though he cannot see the game. Juanma is a 17 years old boy like any other. He studies and helps at home. He is a very responsible guy, according to his mother. But if there's something that defines him is that Juanma is crazy about the Betis football Club, one of the two clubs in Seville, Spain. Juanma and Francis met at the Betis Fan Club in their home town, Herrera, near Seville. Twice a year the club organizes buses to go to the capital city and watch a game at the stadium. When Francis was told to go with everyone he said: "But I won't see anything!!". Juanma offered himself: "I will become your eyes, I will tell you what's happening on the field". And so they do since then. This is the story of a beautiful relationship between two different persons, thanks to football.
Francis phones home from the site of the Betic fan club, beside a picture of the president of the football club, Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, and the president of the fan club, Clímaco
SEL0043855 © Lourdes Segade
Francis makes a call phone to his wife while some of his colleagues at the Betis fan club watch a taped TV reportage where Francis and Juanma were the main characters.
SEL0043858 © Lourdes Segade
Cornelio at the wheel, Francis (left) and Juanma drive to the place where Francis trains running. After so many years being the blind's best friend, Cornelio has become kind of a guide-chaffeaur
SEL0043857 © Lourdes Segade
Right after a meeting of the whole members of the Betis fan club Francis stays in his seat talking to his friend Cornelio while the place recovers its activity
SEL0043859 © Lourdes Segade
Salvadora, Francis' wife, enters the dinning-room with a tray plenty of coffee pots. Francis listens to his special clock. They have been married for 14 years
SEL0043861 © Lourdes Segade
Juanma tries to calm down himself at home the day before his trip to Seville to watch the match of his team, Betis, against Levante
SEL0043860 © Lourdes Segade
Francis a perdu la vue à l’âge de 19 ans. A 48 ans il mène une vie normale: il travaille, est marié, fait du sport et assouvit sa passion de supporter du Betis Football Club de Séville grâce à la complicité de Juanma. A 17 ans, Juanma est lui aussi un inconditionnel du club où ils se sont rencontrés. Depuis il est devenu les yeux de Francis. Ensemble ils ne ratent aucun match important de leur équipe: ils font le voyage ensemble et Juanma lui décrit chaque action sur le terrain.Francis (left) and Juanma spend the time at the Betis fan club in Herrera, Seville, Spain
SEL0043856 © Lourdes Segade
Before the trip to Seville, everyone meets at the site of the Betis fan club. Salvadora (dwarf) is Francis' wife
SEL0043864 © Lourdes Segade
The trip to Seville becomes an exciting experience for Francis (left) and Juanma (next to him), who starts practicing how he will tell the blind what's going on the grass
SEL0043862 © Lourdes Segade
Before the game in Seville all the members of the Betis fan club from Herrera lay some tables in a free space near the stadium and have lunch there. Today they're 150 people. From right to left: Juanma, Cornelio showing a little bit, Francis and Salvadora
SEL0043863 © Lourdes Segade
After having had lunch in a hurry Francis, Salvadora (Francis' wife) and his best friend's daughter daughter rush to watch the players get into the stadium
SEL0043865 © Lourdes Segade
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When the goals come passion goes beyond. Juanma and Francis react a little bit later since Juanma has to explain the blind the action that led to the goal
SEL0043868 © Lourdes Segade
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SEL0043871 © Lourdes Segade