All Stars football match in Rome marks 100 days until the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup
Posted on 23/05/2009
Former World Cup winning footballers Marcel Desailly took part in an exhibition football match today in Rome, the day before the UEFA Champions League Final, to mark 100 days until the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup. The All Stars team, captained by Desailly was defeated by the Homeless World Cup Team Italy (5-4) in the five-a-side match.
The match was staged on the eve of the UEFA Champions League Final to raise awareness of The Homeless World Cup and to promote the Vodafone Foundation’s support of the competition. Vodafone is also a UEFA Champions League Official Partner. Vodafone Foundation and Homeless World Cup supporter, Marcel Desailly marked the 100 day countdown to the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup, where Italy, two times Homeless World Cup champions (Gothenburg 2004 and Edinburgh 2003), will be aiming to regain their championship glory in front of their home crowd.
From 6-13 September 2009 the City of Milan will host 500 players at the 7th Homeless World Cup. 48 nations will compete, representing all five continents of the globe, from Argentina to Brazil, England to Germany, Australia to Cambodia, Hong Kong to India and Ghana to Malawi.
Mel Young, Co-Founder and President, Homeless World Cup, said: “The Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup has the potential to be the greatest Homeless World Cup ever. The attention of the world will now turn to Milan as the public and private sectors work together to demonstrates the true, awesome power of football to change lives. We are sure that the City and people of Milan will provide a warm welcome to 48 nations and show that together, united, we can make a real difference.”
The Homeless World Cup uses football to energise people who are homeless to change their own lives. The Vodafone Foundation is supporting the Homeless World Cup Foundation with a £500,000 grant, donated over a two year period. This core start-up funding from The Vodafone Foundation is developing infrastructure and grassroots football projects in over 75 nations. The projects culminate with the world-class international football tournament - the Homeless World Cup – which aims to give over one million people who are homeless, access to the benefits of football.
There are one billion homeless people in the world. Over 70% of players at the Homeless World cup experience a significant life change; coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into homes, jobs, education, training, repairing relationships, becoming coaches or players with semi-pro teams and social entrepreneurs. Since 2003 the Homeless World Cup has engaged over 100,000 players and has triggered football programmes in over 70 nations.
Andrew Dunnett, Director, The Vodafone Foundation, said: “The Vodafone Foundation is committed to funding projects that achieve high-level impact, with proven success, and the Homeless World Cup Foundation is already a force for change with phenomenal potential. It has been fantastic to have this event here today on the eve of one of the worlds highest profile football championships and to be able to talk about the Homeless World Cup and to showcase some of the fantastic talent that take part with the likes of the Italian Team here today.”
