Meeting Eric Cantona
Posted by Thomson Financial - 01/10/2007
Hywel Thomas, Financial Director, reports from The Homeless World Cup on turning lives around, 6am starts and the magic that is Eric Cantona.
I have just come back from spending two days in Copenhagen volunteering at the Homeless World Cup. It was quite an experience. I was able to see first hand, how the Homeless World Cup can turn the lives around for the players who take part. I was lucky enough to meet the coach of the English team and he explained that after participating in the HWC, all of the players from previous tournaments have changed their lives for the better. They have taken big steps including coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and some have even gone on to become players and coaches for pro or semi-pro football teams. One guy has even begun training to be an accountant.
Being an avid Manchester United fan, the highlight of the Homeless World Cup for me was getting to meet one of my football heroes, Eric Cantona. He is a complete legend who turned around Manchester United’s fortunes in the nineties. Having him as an ambassador for the Homeless World Cup is great. And of course the other highlight was getting up at 6am to serve French toast to 500 hungry players! I also had a turn at doing security in the media centre during the Eric Cantona press conference. I even had to turn away a few people. Our TF volunteers did a range of things to help make the event run smoothly. Some helped to feed the players, some worked as reporters, some sold drinks and others kept score at the games. I was very impressed with their enthusiasm. It was great to keep hearing that we were doing such a wonderful job and that wherever a problem arose, the organisers called on us to sort it out.
I had a great time volunteering. I am completely exhausted but I’d absolutely do it again. And the fact that it is in Australia next year has nothing to do with it!
