These Socceroos are streets ahead
Not many people can claim that they have represented Australia at a World Cup, let alone at a World Cup in their own country. But now eight homeless and marginalised people from across the country have been selected this week to represent Australia at one of the world’s most unique sporting events – the Homeless World Cup.
The Australian team, known as the Street Socceroos, will enjoy the support of a home crowd when the Homeless World Cup, hosted by The Big Issue Australia, heads Down Under for the first time. The event runs from 1-7 December at Federation Square and Birrarung Marr.
Australia will be one of 56 countries competing in the annual international football tournament which uses the positive power of sport to raise awareness of homelessness and to transform lives.
Announcing the team line-up today, Street Socceroos Coach George Halkias praised the passion and commitment of players who are using sport to overcome challenges in their lives.
The Australian Street Socceroos are: Alex Marshall (Captain, NSW) Stephen Maloney (Vice-captain, VIC); Lorenso Neghad (VIC); Hamid Arabi (SA); Kevin Knight (QLD); Coen Slaughter (NSW); Toni Whelan (SA); and Eddy Halid (VIC).
Players have been selected from hundreds of homeless and marginalised people across the country involved in a weekly street soccer program coordinated by The Big Issue. The program uses sport as a catalyst to transform lives, by reconnecting homeless and marginalised people with the community and working to rebuild players’ confidence and self-esteem.
As host country of this year’s event, Australia will also supply a reserves team of ten players to fill in for other countries as required. Players for the reserves squad are: Paul McCourt, Norm Sharp and Joshua Leech (VIC); Patrick Syah, Chad Bartosik, Tim Butler and Pjay Streeton (NSW); Rohan Beehag (QLD); Dave Miles (SA); and Dave Anderson (WA).
At the announcement, a number of the Street Socceroos and the reserves team were presented with their Australian shirts by one of the ambassadors for the tournament, Melbourne Victory captain and former Socceroo ,Kevin Muscat. I also managed to catch up with George Halkias, coach of the Street Socceroos and one of the reserves squad, Paul McCourt. Starting with George, here is what they had to say.
Neil Zimmerman: How are the preparations going for the Street Socceroos?
George Halkias: Really good now that we have have selected the team. All over the country players are now going to have to get fit and healthy and prepare themselves both physically and mentally. I will be staying in touch with them by phone as it is bit hard to travel around the country to visit them all. A week before the tournament the team will be coming down to Melbourne so I can start working and training with them as a group.
NZ: What are your hopes for this year’s competition?
GH: I want the players to have the time of their lives, to make new friends and to use the event as a way to improve their lives. Obviously, we will go into each game trying to win each game. We will pay hard but fair and show the great sportsmanship that Australians are reknowned for at sporting events. Hopefully we can win a few matches and I think people will be surprised at the talent of some of our players.
NZ: Who are the players to watch?
GH: There are eight players in our squad and the standard is pretty even. There are few boys from Sydney worth looking out for, young Coen Slaughter and Alex Marshall, who is the captain of the team. People also going to love little Stevie Maloney, who is the size of a jockey and runs like a whippet and a good striker to boot.
NZ: Finally, it must be great having someone like Kevin Muscat on board as one of the ambassadors for the Homeless World Cup?
GH: Its great for our guys to rub shoulders with the elite players. Kevin has obviously represented his country and is a good fellow and the players really enjoyed the interaction before and after the jersey presentation.
Next up I had a quick chat with Paul McCourt (pictured above in goals stopping shots from Melbourne Victory players and Street Socceroos alike) who goes by the nickname of “Pommy”.
Neil Zimmerman: What does it mean for you to play in the Homeless World Cup?
Paul McCourt: I find it a pleasure to be able to play in the World Cup on homesoil. Its a shame that I didn’t get into the squad for the Street Socceroos, but being a reserve is the next best thing. This tournament means the world to me. Football is my stress relief especially after being in detox and rehab with a few problems over the years.
NZ: And finally, what are you looking forward to most about participating in the Homeless World Cup?
PM: Meeting other people from other cultures and different parts of the world as well as the competition itself. It would take more than a broken arm or leg to keep me away from participating in this tournament.
So if you are in Melbourne in the first week of December get down and support your home team as they take on the world.
For more information about the 2008 Homeless World Cup, visit their website.
Neil Zimmerman is the editor of the84thminute and also runs the Victory In Melbourne site. On most weekends Neil can be found at a football match, be it either A-League, Victorian Premier League or a match that he happens to come across whilst walking his dogs.
Photo credit: Neil Zimmerman
