Spain midfielder Marc Cuera has revealed a special emotional reason for not tying his long curly hair on the pitch. According to a recent report, Cuqueria took this step for the benefit of his seven-year-old autistic son, Mateo, so that the boy could easily identify his father while enjoying the game from the spectator seats. His curly hair is exceptionally noticeable when he is on the field and this hairstyle is now an integral part of his personality, behind him his son played a special role.
Cuqueria and his partner, Claudia Rodriguez, have previously publicly revealed that their eldest son, Matt, also suffers from autism. After learning about their son’s condition, the whole family has to accept a new reality. As Claudia mentioned, they initially had a hard time coping with the situation but eventually came to understand their son’s needs and rearranged school, therapy and daily routines. Even the family’s travel plans were changed for Mateo’s convenience. Kukuryako became emotional several times while describing her experience with her son.
Psychologist Atreyi Bhattacharya said, Autism is a special neurological condition or neurodevelopmental condition that starts with chromosomal changes in the fetus. The psychologist added that children with autism have impaired social language development, which can sometimes confuse them about their surroundings. They may struggle to understand simple issues such as the identity of their parents or their location. Therefore, although it would benefit Kukurya to tie his hair in the field, he would not change his hair for his son. Experts suggest the move is to ensure there is no problem finding Mateo’s father among players wearing the same colored jersey.
By openly discussing his child’s autism, Mark Kukuriya is now a role model of courage for many families. According to experts, autism is not a disease, but rather a different form of neurodevelopment. With timely assessment, appropriate support, therapy, and immense patience and love from the family, children with autism can develop naturally at their own pace. Kukurya’s initiative is a beautiful example of parents’ responsibility towards children with special needs.
