Gothenburg 2004 - Player Quotes
Sergio Ariel Pena, Argentina
“I never expected such
things could happen to me. Thanks to the Homeless World Cup I gained the power
to change my life.”
Evgeniy Adamenko, Ukraine, Winner of Golden Shoe Award
"It made me change the course of my life completely and to define the goals in my life and find new ways to achieve what I want. To win the 'Golden Shoe' Trophy was a real victory for me, maybe the most important, but not the last one."
Kevin Wilson, England, Winner of Best Goalkeeper Award
“It was really a tremendous experience. I mean, we met lots of other really good people. We got on really well with the Scottish team and the Irish and I made a lot of new friends. It was brilliant just meeting people from other countries, mixing with them and getting to know them.”
Claudio Bongiovani, Brazil
"It just doesn’t compare to anything in my life. First, just being in a foreign country and then because of the treatment we received when we were there. We were so well treated. When we walked along the streets people cried, ‘Brazil, Brazil."
Marek Soscak, Poland
“I ask myself why we so won many games over there – I think it is because, when you play, you feel like you are flying. All that adrenaline just takes you forward. The spectators were fun and were very kind and friendly. And I think that yes, I have changed for the better. I started to feel people’s respect towards me, and began feeling more secure.”
Mziwamabhele “Bells”
Hlati, South Africa
“Football is such an amazing game. I started playing when I was 13 years old, in the streets without a ball. Travelling to the other side of the world was just so big it was beyond anything I had ever dreamed of. It was the most amazing thing that ever happened to me. Being in Gothenburg was such a brilliant experience. I wanted to explore everything made sure that I talked to people. I told them about South Africa and my culture and I listened as they talked of theirs.”
Yoshinori Matsumoto, Japan (Winners of the Fair Play Award)
“Homeless people from the various countries seemed more cheerful than those in Japan. At home we are excluded and shunned. It made me think and encouraged me to look forward."
