AuthorJeffEyesRimmer There has been plenty of coverage this past month on the FIFA World Cup next year in Russia, what with the qualifiers finishing and the World Cup groups being drawn. Well there was a different football World Cup that was held this year, one that I was even fortunate enough to attend. That tournament was the Homeless World and it was held in Oslo back in August and September. I was fortunate to be in Oslo for the start of the tournament, getting to see the opening parade and ceremony, watch tonnes of matches and even get to speak with the Wales management and players. So what is the Homeless World Cup and how does it all work? The Homeless World Cup occurs every year and brings together teams from across the world. Any country can apply to enter the event and this year’s version had more than 50 countries compete and had over 500 players. The tournament is a 4-a-side system and teams can enter male, female or mixed teams. The mixed teams play in the male competition and the overall winner this year was a mixed side. The Homeless World Cup organisers work with a network of organisations throughout the world, these National Partners as they are called, vary in size etc. but all of them help organise street football programmes in their respective countries. It is these programmes that players are selected to compete in the World Cup. This year’s edition of the World Cup was held in Oslo and as I said I was lucky enough to attend the first few days of the tournament. The opening parade travelled down one of the main thoroughfares in the city – Karl Johans Gate and ended up along the water near the Noble Peace Prize Museum. This is where three pitches, stands and venue for the tournament were held. The parade was full of songs, flags bearers, fun and was where I first met the Welsh team, who, on spotting my Welsh shirt dragged me into the parade to celebrate with them. This was my first taste of the tournaments sentiment. There was no sadness, no pity, no hint of the hardships the competitors have experienced in their lives, no, it was fans and players enjoying themselves and getting ready to enjoy the football that was about to begin. I think it’s important to stress that this was the tone of the tournament, that football is fun and brings people together and this was evidenced right at the start by me being pulled into the parade celebrations and singing Welsh songs with my fellow countrymen. Then the tournament began, with the first game being between Norway’s women’s side and Chile (which the hosts lost). What I was surprised by was the quality of football that was on show (shame on me for thinking otherwise I admit). After watching a number of games, it was clear that there were plenty of very good players on show. Some I thought could and should be professionals and after walking around the venue you could spot several scouts keeping an eye for some gems. Teams like Mexico, Brazil and Chile were obvious choices to scout but for my part I thought a few of the Romanian and Swiss players could do a job, especially at a lower league level (Football Outcasts becoming scouts?!). The first game for the Welsh men’s team, The Dragons, came on the first day with them up against Costa Rica, unfortunately losing that game, but they went on to beat Belgium 6-1 in their second game of the day, emulating the professional Welsh sides win over Belgium in another recent major tournament. I was also then fortunate to catch the Welsh women’s side play late on day one. With the Scandinavian light failing the Women’s side, The Warriors, were up against a strong Mexican team. Unfortunately the Central American side were too strong for the Welsh ladies and they ended up putting five past the Welsh side. A valiant effort in the end and although there was disappointment there were hugs all-round at the end of the game. A big part of why I feel the tournament was so enjoyable was the good nature and spirit the games were being played. Additionally, the players and coaches from all the different teams sat in the stands and watched other games with the supporters. It was a great way to interact and get to know some of players and teams. On the second day I managed to watch the Women’s side again and while watching the ladies game I was lucky enough to sit with the Welsh management and men’s side. I spoke with Rosa (sorry if spelling is wrong) who is one of the organisers for the Welsh side, who told me about the Street Football program in Wales and how players are chosen. For the Welsh side there is a league in Wales for the men and a tournament for the Women and from these competitions the players are picked. It’s based on football ability but also on commitment, merit and personal attitude as well. Rosa also indicated that other organisations picked their players differently but the system that they had implemented was working well in Wales. So much so that actor Michael Sheen has now become the patron for the organisation, which is only a good thing moving forward. I then chatted with Chris and Steven from the men’s Welsh side. Steven, Wales’s number 1, only started playing football last year and was really enjoying it. He was fantastic in goal for Wales during the games I watched too, making some great and crucial saves. Chris played upfront for Wales and banged in several of those goals against the Belgians, he used to be part of Cardiff City’s academy at one stage too, so the skill is there for many of these players. Both players were a good laugh to chat too and I have to thank them for taking the time to have a chat with me. If more evidence was needed as to the spirit and camaraderie the tournament was played in though it was during one of Australia’s games. Australia brought a mixed team to the World Cup and was on just after the Welsh men’s had finished their game. While waiting for the Australian game to start I sat with the Welsh ladies team. Some of you may be aware that I have an Australian wife, it didn’t take the Welsh ladies much time at all to realise this after chatting and soon the Welsh ladies side were singing Australian songs, chanting ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’ and even managed to borrow an inflatable kangaroo from the Australian management. It was not only wonderful for my wife to enjoy but also great for the Australian side to play to songs from the stands. At the end of the game both sets of players, management and supporters came to together and it just showed what a great tournament this was. Rosa told me that Wales will be hoping to host it one day and while I wait for the professional side to make it a World Cup, at least I can say I watched both the men’s and women’s Welsh sides compete at a World Cup. That’s something their more illustrious countrymen can say they have done. Also congratulations need to go out to the Welsh ladies team who won the Cobana Bowl trophy. Congratulations are also due for another Home Nation, with the Scottish men’s and women’s sides both winning cups too. But onto the overall winner, it came from a country expected to do well at the Russia World Cup next year as well – Brazil. The Brazilians played lovely football throughout the tournament and played with a mixed side to boot. They played out an entertaining final against Mexico, eventually winning the game 4-3. It was tense and exciting; hopefully next year’s Russia World Cup will have a final with that score line as well. So what happens after the tournament finishes? Well the players go back to their respective countries and the National Partners try to assist with education, job opportunities and housing.
The key stats are that when people who have participated in the Homeless World Cup, 94% say it has positively impacted their lives. A further 83% say that it has improved their home life, 77% say that is has changed their lives and 71% continue to play sport in some way. What these stats show is that the feeling of belonging, working in a team, regaining self-esteem, experience of representing their country, and just the experience of having fun playing football changes people’s lives for the better. There was no stigma and no negativity at the tournament that I witnessed; it was enjoyable and good natured, with fantastic people enjoying playing football. That’s how it should be and if you would like to help at all there are a few helpful pages to visit below. As I had the opportunity to meet both the Welsh and Australian teams you can find them here: Wales: http://www.streetfootballwales.com/ Australia: https://www.thebigissue.org.au/community-street-soccer/about/ New Zealand were not present at the Oslo World Cup, hopefully we can help get them to the next one: https://sites.google.com/site/sportzonenz/home/street-football You can donate to the Homeless World Cup here: https://homelessworldcup.org/ You can check out the full album of pictures here on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pg/FootyOutcasts/photos/?tab=album&album_id=360084344412627 |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
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