Opening Day
President Mbeki Welcomes Homeless World Cup
South Africa has won the opening game of the Homeless World Cup street soccer tournament beating Chile by two goals to one.
The fourth Homeless World Cup, an international street soccer tournament being hosted by The Big Issue South Africa this year, was welcomed by President Thabo Mbeki during his Heritage Day address.
Teams from 48 countries, comprising homeless, vulnerably sheltered and other marginalised men and women, are taking part in the tournament.
Speaking at the Grand Parade in Cape Town, Mbeki said: ‘We are very happy that Cape Town is hosting this important sporting event which, I am certain will further popularise participation in soccer and other sports in our country.’
Mbeki wished Bafowethu, the South African team, and all the other participants, the very best of luck, adding that he hoped ‘this Homeless World Cup will inspire everyone to do everything we need to do make the 2010 tournament very successful indeed’.
‘May this Heritage Day herald new beginnings for the homeless not only to succeed in the beautiful game but also that, working together with government through our housing programmes, we ensure that we end homelessness in our country,’ he said.
Mel Young, president of the Homeless World Cup, said President Mbeki’s words ‘mattered a lot to homeless people all around the world’.
‘We are grateful to President Mbeki for his encouragement. People will see the effectiveness of the Homeless World Cup and help us find more and more support. This is the first time we’ve had a politician of this seniority throw his weight behind us. It means a lot,’ Young said.
The crowd threw its weight behind the Bafowethu team with cheers and vuvuzelas as former soccer star Eusébio officially kicked off the opening game. Eusébio, who was born in Mozambique, won 67 caps playing for Portugal in the mid 60s and early 70s.
South Africa’s captain, Arthur Adams, scored both goals for the home team. Coach Jean Marc Ithier – assistant coach for premier league side, Santos FC – said he was delighted with the team’s win.
‘It was great in the sense that we got what we wanted – a win – but it was not the prettiest game. It didn’t shape up the way we practiced but I’ll take the win. We’ll put our play into the next game against Hungary tomorrow,’ Ithier said. [Monday, Sept 25]
In the second game, England beat Hong Kong by 11-1.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: The Homeless World Cup is an annual street soccer tournament uniting teams of homeless people from around the globe to kick off poverty.
It was co-founded by leading social entrepreneur Mel Young and Austrian street paper editor Harald Schmied who came up with the idea over a beer in 2001 while they were attending the annual International Network of Street Papers conference, which was held in Cape Town that year.
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