10 August 2012
For the first time since South Africa Homeless Street Soccer (SAHSS) has been a partner of the Homeless World Cup, it is holding its national trials in three provinces: the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape and Kwazulu Natal. According to spokesman Clifford Martinus, the final team will be selected within the next couple of weeks and then go into training for the Homeless World Cup in Mexico City (October 6-14).
“It has long been a desire of ours to become a truly national organisation, and we are well on our way,” said Martinus. “Next year we should have more provinces involved and then a national tournament.”
The coach and assistant coach were recently interviewed on South African television about the latest developments in the organisation. Over the past year or so, said Martinus, South Africa Homeless Street Soccer has increased its work within schools and communities, and together with its partner, the community organisation Oasis, has developed a programme called LIFE (local integrated football education) which it rolls out to schools, working with more than 3,000 people to develop their lifeskills by playing street soccer - proving once again that football has the power to change people's lives.
