Marcos García Trives faces a physical disability but carries a strong passion for football. He resides in Sant Joan and is twenty years old, playing for Xaloc Alacant Powerchair. He stands out as a leader within his wheelchair futsal league and has earned six calls to the national team training camp, though he has not yet made his debut in an official match. For international play, a specially approved chair is required, with a cost of 12,000 Euros, and it is manufactured in the United States. His dream, however, remains on track to become a reality.
Conchi Trives, Marcos’s mother, arranged for this chair last summer and engaged the mayor of Sant Joan d’Alacant, Santiago Román (Cs), to support the purchase. An effort was made to secure the needed funds through debt options, with anticipation that the motorized chair would arrive to enable Marcos to compete. A sponsorship was confirmed with the mayor’s support, and the local council has approved coverage in the final accounting, with the city of Sant Joan endorsing the plan so Marcos can debut for La Roja.
City Council honors Xaloc Alacant Powerchair
Caesar Hernandez
The general meeting held on March 9 approved the mayor’s proposal to create a dedicated budget line to sponsor this athlete. Román explained that the city council will enable Marcos to purchase a racing wheelchair as soon as the funds are available. Starting next week, Marcos will have access to 15,000 euros from the City Council to cover the full cost.
muscular dystrophy
Conchi speaks of a son who lives with muscular dystrophy, a progressive condition with diagnostic milestones and life changes. The family has faced a degenerative course, and Marcos learned early how to adapt and persevere through it all.
Despite the challenges, Marcos remains focused on his goal of playing football. He has had moments of recognition, including meeting notable players and receiving encouragement to compete at the European level, but he was unable to debut because the official seating arrangements were not yet in place. The plan for funding was set in motion nearly a year ago, with the council ready to finance the chair and move forward.
The family has also benefited from community solidarity. Marcos’s mother secured additional funding to acquire an electric stander, aided by the generosity of a local pastry chef and his family. Local supporters have joined the effort to ensure Marcos can participate fully in training and competition.
“You have to live day by day and be grateful for each step forward”, Conchi explains. The family visualizes the moment when Marcos wears the national jersey and can enjoy the experience of competing on the international stage.