PRESS RELEASE
SCOTLAND VICTORIOUS AT THE ROYAL HOMELESS WORLD CUP
4 August 2007, Scotland has won the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup, the international football tournament changing lives.
Scotland beat Poland in the finals by 9 goals to 3 in front of packed crowds and HRH Crown Prince of Denmark, today in the City Hall Square. The match was refereed by international referee Kim Milton Nielsen who is infamous for the sending off of David Beckham in the FIFA World Cup against Argentina.
Scotland’s Captain, Paul Smith, who also won best male player of the tournament, said: “This has been better than I could ever have imagined. The level of skill and quality of football has been exceptional. We have really enjoyed the Danish fans that have also supported us here in Copenhagen.”
Poland’s Captain, Rafal Rozonski, said, “One of my strongest dreams has been realized: to represent my country and participate in a World Cup Final. We are good fighters. It can be very hard to be homeless but playing soccer makes you forget about that. You can be free.”
Mel Young, President and Co-founder Homeless World Cup, said: “It has been a tournament of many great goals, fabulous skill and fair play. Congratulations to Scotland and to the Coach for taking the team to victory.”
David Duke, the Coach of Scotland was a player in the Gothenburg 2004 Homeless World Cup and now has led his team to victory in the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup. “After changing my own life through football and the Homeless World Cup it is just great that I can help others do the same. To take Scotland to victory is just superb.”
The winners of the other trophies at the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup are as follows:
INSP Trophy Final
Slovenia (5) v (7) Kyrgyzstan
Ombold Trophy Final
Zimbabwe (1) v (3) Austria
Hus Forbi Trophy Final
Netherlands (4) v Mexico (4) Netherlands win 3-2 on pens
Cape Town Trophy Final
Serbia (2) v Lithuania (9)
Copenhagen Trophy Final
Kazakhstan (6) v Ghana (3)
Homeless World Cup Final
Poland (3) v Scotland (9)
Each player received a medal for participating in the Homeless World Cup, uniting with 48 nations to represent their country, lighting up Copenhagen for a tournament of true grit spirit and glory.
For more information please logo on to www.homelessworldcup.org.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact:
Kat Byles, Homeless World Cup Mobile: +44 (0)7901 701 334 | Email: kat@homelessworldcup.org | Skype: Katbyles
Web: http://www.homelessworldcup.org/content/press
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the Homeless World Cup
The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are homeless and excluded from around the world to change their lives for the better. It also supports and inspires grass roots football projects around the world working with homeless and excluded people throughout the year. 48 nations, 500 players will take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country for true grit, spirit and glory at the 5th Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen from 29 July – 4 August 2007.
73% of players change their lives for the better after participating by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for pro or semi-pro football teams.
The Homeless World Cup was co-founded by world leading social entrepreneur Mel Young and Harald Schmied at the Annual International Network of Street Papers Conference (INSP) in Cape Town in 2001. The Ministry of Social Affairs, City of Copenhagen and Ombold are the hosts the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup. UEFA, International Network of Street Papers, Nike are international partners.
Log on to www.homelessworldcup.org for more information.
