Mario, Portugal 2005
Mario Baptista played for Portugal in 2005.
Mario, 33, was once a player with a professional football team but a
series of problems in his life led to unemployment and social exclusion. In 2003 Mario found himself homeless and living on the streets. By 2005
he was living in a night shelter and was supported by the Futuro
Autonomo Association – a Portuguese organisation that uses sport to
fight social exclusion. With their help Mario had begun learning
technical skills and was trying to find work and was selected for the Portuguese Homeless World Cup team. As goalkeeper Mario helped Portugal reach 10th place at the Edinburgh 2005 Homeless World Cup .
On returning to Portugal Mario took some hugely positive steps forward.
He re-established contact with his family and friends and, thanks
to a social housing programme, found a house. He works part-time in a supermarket with ambitions to set
up a garage with his brother. Mario is a trained mechanic, taught by his father before he became homeless. He continues to play football regularly and is now the goalkeeper for his local team.
Mario says: “Playing at the Homeless World Cup helped me to move on in
my life. It raised my self esteem and made me feel
that I could better myself and that it was possible to improve my life
and my social conditions. It was good to meet people from other countries and cultures and see
that I was in not alone in my fight against social problems. Thanks to
the Homeless World Cup people started see me in a different way, in a good
way."
