The eighth Homeless World Cup will take place in a purpose-built stadium on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro with competing squads from 56 nations.
The event uses sport as a springboard towards positive change in the lives of its participants as well as highlighting issues of poverty and exclusion around the world. It has an impressive success rate with participants changing their lives for the better by getting homes, jobs, reuniting with families or addressing drug and alcohol issues.
The trust behind the initiative in New Zealand, Street Football Aotearoa, has selected the team from a network of football training projects run by partner organisations including LIFEWISE, the Salvation Army, Downtown Community Ministry, the City Mission and PACT.
OFC has also played a major role, providing team uniforms and the training facility at Charles J. Dempsey Academy in Auckland where the team was based this week.
General Secretary Tai Nicholas says the whole football family is getting behind the event.
“OFC has had a close association with the Homeless World Cup including the appointment of our Deputy General Secretary Frederic Guillemont as CEO of the Homeless World Cup Foundation in 2009,” says Nicholas.
“This year, we have seen generous contributions from New Zealand Football, Cuesports Foundation and many others. The Homeless World Cup embodies the spirit of fair play and social inclusion, showing us that the power of football can bring hope to those less privileged.”
The team has also garnered support from the Wellington City Council and a host of generous individuals which has delighted Street Football Aotearoa Chair Katie Owen.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to all those people who have helped us out. It’s fantastic that players who have trained so hard for the past 18 months now have the opportunity to fulfil their dreams.”
LIFEWISE General Manager John McCarthy says the organisation is proud to help the New Zealand team prepare for the Homeless World Cup because it is an outstanding event that changes people’s lives.
“LIFEWISE client support worker Stephen McLuckie helped set up Street Football Aotearoa and coached the first New Zealand team that took part in the Homeless World Cup in Melbourne two years ago. We know that experience helped the players turn their lives around, and we expect this team will also benefit hugely from the opportunity to represent New Zealand in Rio de Janeiro.”
The squad to travel to Rio are: Tim Aitken (Dunedin), Fraser Hoffe (Wellington), Kingi Hotu (Auckland), Kaha Keepa (Wellington), Patrick Shannahan (Christchurch), Terereao Thompson (Christchurch), Kevin Wagstaff (Wellington), Fabian Waenga (Wellington).
The team will be coached by Steve Fletcher from Auckland who volunteers his time and support, with the assistance of Gabor Radak, a social worker from Christchurch City Mission.