Northern Ireland's Friel finds power in sharing a boat
Northern Ireland have made a strong start to the Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup, with a recent recruit to the country’s street soccer programme to the fore of the action.
As is the story with many of his fellow players, Kyle Friel has a pal to thank for setting him on the road to Norway. He said:
“It was a friend of mine, who actually has been in Street Soccer a long time and he was talking about the Homeless World Cup.”
“I’d never heard of it before, my mate told me to get involved, knowing I’m in temporary housing at the moment.”
Despite it only being day two of the tournament, it has left a big impression on the Oslo community and on a global scale, showing it’s a tournament for everyone about much more than a game.
Friel said: “Everyone’s been so accommodating, I wasn’t expecting how big it is and how amazing the set up is.”
The main aim of the Homeless World Cup is to use football in a way to create change and help people improve their lives from all backgrounds. Friel being one of these players, new to the set up and at his first tournament, the Northern Irish player has made a big impression on the pitch representing his country in all three games so far and scoring plenty of goals.
Their most recent victory came against Japan.
Friel said: “We are just sticking together, the women have a harder draw than us, but that game was amazing, three out of three is amazing, I’m buzzing to score and it was a great scoreline.
Away from the pitch Friel is working hard to use this opportunity to better his life.
“At the start of the year I set myself a goal, it’s a big goal for me in taking myself out my comfort zone more, even sitting here talking to you is way out of my comfort zone, so doing things like this is helping me achieve these goals of mine and I’m really happy.
“Just being part of it, with everyone in the same or similar boats, it’s powerful.”
Words by Izaak Darvill | Photos by John Anderson