Homeless World Cup: England campaign kicks off
Updated on 20 August 2010
The England team for the Homeless World Cup has raised enough money to get to September's competition in Brazil, after its lack of funds was highlighted in a Channel 4 News report.
The Homeless World Cup, supported by footballing legends like Eric Cantona, is a chance for homeless people to change their lives through football.
But England's dreams of attending this year's competition in Brazil in September were hanging in the balance as the team struggled to raise enough money to go.
Following a Channel 4 News report into its plight, however, the team has received enough sponsorship to enable it to compete in the tournament.
Homeless World Cup England team manager, Richard Brown from The Big Issue in the North, said getting the money was a "massive" thing for the players, who had been looking forward to the competition all year.
"It's fantastic for the players," he said.
"For them it gives them a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and increases their self esteem, which is the first step to getting their lives back on track."
The ultimate dream is to follow in the footsteps of recent Manchester United signing Bebe, who joined the club this month after beginning his career playing for a club in a homeless league.
For most of the players such a glittering career path is just a dream; but the organisers say 73 per cent of competitors change their lives for the better after the motivation of the tournament, by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, or new homes, and reuniting with their families.
The England team has now managed to raise the £11,500 minimum needed to take part in the event, which will be held on Copacabana beach in Rio between 19-26 September.
"We have seen a massive increase in online donations from members of the general public," explained Mr Brown. "We are also finalising the details with a number of corporate organisations who have pledged money. It's fantastic news. Without Channel 4 News we wouldn't be going."
The team has managed to raise slightly more than its target of £11,500, which represented a bare minimum figure.
They will now be able to go for three days of training before the competition, because of extra money raised on top of their target.
"The players are really pleased, the smiles are back on their faces," said Mr Brown. "They are a fantastic group of players and now we can put three days' training in, in preparation for the competition. Without it we would not be able to do as well."
Homeless player given hope
18-year old striker Kareem Leigh told Channel 4 News that football, and the chance to play in the Homeless World Cup, had helped pull him out of depression.
Before becoming homeless, he had played in the past for West Ham's youth team.
"When you're sucked into this homeless environment you need something bright, something to drag you out there, to change your scenery and stuff," he said.
"I slipped into depression seven or eight months ago and I felt so horrible. I'd wake up in the morning with a feeling like extreme boredom and I thought to myself how can I get out of this?
"I thought let me start playing football and the World Cup actually made me realise I have a talent, why am I wasting it? It doesn't make sense I'm sitting in here spinning around doing nothing."
Celebrity backers
For the 30,000 homeless people from 64 countries taking part, the Homeless World Cup is a chance to change their lives through football.
Next year's event will take place in Paris, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been confirmed as president of the organising committee for the event, which will take place at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
The event is also supported by Nike, the United Nations, UEFA, global ambassador Eric Cantona and international footballers Rio Ferdinand and Didier Drogba.
Wenger said the event gives homeless people a target to aim for.
"What is important for a guy who is homeless is to give him a target again in life, for him to know that when he gets up he has training. He takes a shower, has lunch and knows that he has training again the next morning," he said.
"It gives him something to think about, it gets discipline into his life again. When you lose that discipline, it becomes one of the big problems for young people. They cannot find a job because they are not shaved, not showered. Everybody rejects them, they feel on the outside, excluded."
