Goalkeeper won’t be held back

LIVING with Down Syndrome, Pedro Payares from Puerto de Santa María has chosen not to let it hold him back. Whether as a goalkeeper for Cádiz Genuine or starring in a documentary Fanáticos de lo Real.

Pedro’s mother describes him with a single word: resilience. She acknowledges that since his birth, overcoming challenges has been a constant part of his life. Despite initial difficulties, Pedro has come a long way and continues to bring joy to everyone who knows him.

Being an advocate for his city, Pedro is well­known, enjoys an active social life and has many fans. One daily ritual Pedro never misses is having breakfast at his favourite bar. Every morning, he occupies his regular spot at the bar, surrounded by waiters and clients who have become his friends.

But his absolute favourite activity is going out to parties with his cousins. With a mischievous smile, Pedro affirms that music makes him feel great, which is why he loves going to discos.

Alongside his infectious enthusiasm for life, Pedro also nurtures a dream that he tirelessly works towards. Becoming a professional goalkeeper like his idol, Keylor Navas. He is already a goalie for Cádiz’s team in LaLiga Genuine Santander, a project that aims to provide a space for footballers with mental disabilities.

Pedro has already earned a place in the official Cádiz store. A poster of him there serves as a reminder to other people with disabilities that they too can succeed in football.

Betty Henderson

THE summer season is nearly upon us and Ryanair is surging ahead. The low­cost airline is overpowering rivals including Iberia and Vueling. That’s according to the latest industry data released on Wednesday, June 15.

In May, Ryanair commanded an impressive 23 per cent of shares in the market, serving nearly 5.8 million passengers across its 12 airport bases in Spain.

According to data collected by airport operator Aena, Ryanair continues to dominate over its closest rivals, Iberia and Vueling.

Vueling saw a 14 per cent improvement in May on last year’s figures, welcoming a total of 4.1 million passengers. Meanwhile, Iberia achieved a respectable 17 per cent growth on last year’s figures, transporting 1.8 million passengers during the month of May.

Air Europa secured the fourth spot with remarkable figures, experiencing a significant resurgence. The airline welcomed 1.36 million passengers, surpassing both last year’s numbers and pre­pandemic levels. Despite potential disruptions from pilot