Cape Town 2006 Impact
Posted on 02/07/2007
- 73% of players involved in the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup report a significant life change
- 92% have new motivation for life
- Impact high as tournament doubles in size
15 June 2007, Research published today into the social impact of the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup, the world-class annual football tournament changing lives, reveals a significant impact on the lives of the participants. The impact remains significant as the tournament doubled in size to 48 nations, 394 players:
- 92% players have a new motivation for life
- 73% have changed their lives for the better
- 93 players successfully addressed a drug or alcohol dependency
- 35% have secured regular employment
- 44% have improved their housing situation
- 39% chose to pursue education
- 72% continue to play football
African footballer of the Year, Didier Drogba, Chelsea FC, is a strong supporter of the impact of the tournament: “The Homeless World Cup is an event that can change the life of anyone, not simply to help them become a professional footballer, but so that they can become a man, in everyday life, developing values, human values, which I think are very important.”
Players from the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup spoke out in support for the tournament and their life-changing experience. Kevin Garrigan, 24, England now signed by Ryhope CW, a semi-pro club, said: "If you get the opportunity, take it as it can change your life."
Cherie Kpenneh Sayon, 19, now an example to other young women living on the streets in Liberia, said: "The Homeless World Cup has given me opportunities I never would have had. Young girls now want to be like me and get on in their lives too."
Mel Young, President, Homeless World Cup said: “Cape Town 2006 was the first time we held a Homeless World Cup in Africa, bringing 13 African nations to the tournament. We doubled in size to include 48 nations, involving an estimated 17,000 people in pre-tournament training and trials around the world.
“With this phenomenal growth we are extremely pleased to see that the impact remains consistent, positive and significant. Once again sport demonstrating the tremendous power it has to change lives.
“It is the players, their dignity and their courage to take the opportunity to represent their country and go on a life-changing journey that makes the Homeless World Cup such an incredible sporting event uniting a community of thousands around the world. We can’t wait to see players standing proud in Copenhagen this summer.”
48 nations, up from 3 in 2003, now hold national selections and trials for their Homeless World Cup teams and with 31 having set up or in the process of setting up street leagues making football available to excluded and homeless players all year round. This is reaching an estimated 25,000 players in the run up to Copenhagen 29 July – 4 August 2007.
The Homeless World Cup aims to involve 100,000 players a year by 2010 and is inviting fans around the world join the fan club and help make this happen: www.homelessworldcup.org/fanclub
