The Ones To Watch
Posted by Nigeria - 08/05/2007
Search and Groom are the organisation behind the Nigerian Homeless World Cup team, which began in the Ajegunle slum area of Nigeria’s capital city, Lagos. Becca McInally caught up with Yomi Kuku founder during his recent trip to Edinburgh.
The Search and Groom project is designed to give young people the chance to use sport for social inclusion and acceptance as well as breaking down the stereotypes of homelessness. Following the teams strong performance in Cape Town in 2006, Yomi seems confident that his team will be the ones to watch out for in Copenhagen 2007.
“The Nigerian Homeless World Cup team have become ambassadors of the project, the organisation and their country. One player returned home over a three day journey and the whole village were in attendance to greet him and congratulate him on representing Nigeria overseas. It is a great honour in Nigeria. Cape Town 2006 was a great experience for Africa and has brought so many wonderful opportunities to our team due largely to the media attention in Africa. This has allowed the development of a Street Soccer league in Lagos where players can be taught in the morning and play soccer in the afternoon, benefiting them both with academic training and in a social context. Now around 1500 players are involved.
The Nigerian team promises to bring high spirit and support to Copenhagen and they will, once again, be keen to entertain fellow participants and crowds with their traditional Nigerian music and dance. We will lay down a social agenda and set Copenhagen on fire with Nigerian spirit,” Yomi promised
They are also keen to work on encouraging the government to focus on improving the social fabric of Nigerian society and help put foundations in place to build on a bright future for Nigeria as a whole.
Nigeria still needs help with their travel to attend the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup 29 July – 4 August 2007. Can you help make their dream a reality?
3 simple ways you can help.
1. Join the fan club and support Nigeria – click now
2. Join the Extreme Team and raise money for Nigeria – click now
3. Make a donation – click now
Comments
udeh james 30/06/2007
hi. nigerian soccer player. i wish you good luk. and i will like to send ur contact so that i will come and play with you soccer players. i,m a soccer play. from nigeria. looking to hear from you soon.bye
