Smiling Socceroos win hearts in Copenhagen

Posted on 04/08/2007

In Australia they say "winners grin and losers please themselves". Those of us who grew up there know this may win you sports contests but not many friends along the way. Here in Copenhagen a disparate group of young Aussies are setting the record straight and paving the way for a big party at next year's Homeless World Cup in Melbourne.

Win or lose the "Street Socceroos" have grinned their way through the tournament here, earning plaudits for their fair play and comradely approach to the game. The Australia bench can frequently be heard chanting the name of their opponents while urging on their own team mates.

Their party piece is to gather players from both sides at the end of a match, link arms, form a circle in the middle of the pitch and start spinning around to a frenzied rendition of Australia's unofficial national anthem "Waltzing Matilda" - essentially a song about a bloke who stole sheep. The whole approach has won many friends, including England coach Louis Garvey, who places great store in how players conduct themselves as people as much as footballers. This is a big accolade from a man who works at that talent factory known as the Manchester United Academy.

The youthful Australians are led by George Malkias (left), a thoughtful, quietly spoken regional development officer for the Big Issue in Melbourne. He is very protective towards his charges, conscious of the fact that they are a long way from home and, in all likelihood, making a journey outside their home cities for the first time. Team selection wasn't just based on ability, he says. A 32 hour flight, including two stopovers, can be a challenge for anyone, let alone a group of individuals with a history of drug, alcohol and mental problems.

But they listen to George and you can see the respect goes both ways. One member of the squad is 22-year-old Joel Monier from Adelaide. When I ask him if he can spare a few minutes he says: "Yeah sure mate, I'll talk to anyone."

Wearing the team's trademark permanent grin, Joel tells me matter-of-factly that he comes from a family of eight children, with an alcoholic mother and "a dad that was not very supportive". He "got chased out" of home at 15 and thought he was big enough to cope.

"I met the wrong group of people in Adelaide. They looked after me and gave me a place to stay. I was sleeping on couches," he says, adding that while he had a roof over his head he had to escape the influence of his new found friends.

He admits he wasn't a huge football fan and had only played "a little bit", but fell into street soccer with his best mate from the streets of Adelaide. There he found he wasn't alone and met others who were having a tough time. That led to meeting Halkias and eventually selection for the trip to Denmark.

"I never thought that drinking or taking drugs would lead me to represent my country," he says, deadpan.

Monier admits life is still not entirely rosy despite picking himself up back in Adelaide. He got a job as a trainee chef, met a girl, fell in love, had a baby. Sadly, they broke up and he was forced to leave their shared home. He admits he contemplated suicide in his darker moments. However, his experience here "is better than any drug that I have ever taken".

He is determined to put things right when he gets back home. "I haven't taken any drugs or drunk for three months. The only thing I need is a place to stay - I am missing my girlfriend," he says.

And so to Melbourne. Malkias says preparations are running well for the event, which will be held in the city's Federation Square in November next year with a target of having 60 nations represented.

"People are knocking on the door to get involved," he says.

"We have set up an organising committee made up of government, corporate and community representatives," he says, adding that this tripartite approach reflects the view that no one body can tackle social problems.

"It is more than just putting a roof over people heads. They need to maintain the dynamics of life."

And the Waltzing Matilda jig? "This is the third time we have done it. Regardless of the score we are having fun, we are singing. It's a sign of unity."

Frank Prenesti

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matthew garner
Added on 10/08/2007 @ 12:51

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