Street Soccer

 

Mustafa was nine when his family fled Iran to seek asylum in Australia. A year later, he arrived in Melbourne to start a new life. 

Hailing from a family of soccer fans, it wasn't long before he started playing the game, first at school and then at the Community Street Soccer Program in Broadmeadows two years ago. "It's a place where people can build friendships," he says of the program. "It puts a smile on everyone's face."

Mustafa hopes his Homeless World Cup experience will also edge closer to his dream of playing professional football one day. "I'd love to get scouted and this will help build up my skills.

 

When Cindy joined the Community Street Soccer Program on a whim last year, she didn't expect to be flying to Paris as the Street Socceroos' only female representative just 18 monts later. "I was jumping around like a kangaroo when they told me," she says. "I'm rapt to be the only girl selected for the team.

The Tassie woman's Street Soccer journey began after acquintances asked her for directions to the program's training ground in Hobart. She reluctantly joined in the session and never looked back. "I was so excited about going back the next week. I kept going back and never stopped." Having experienced period of homelessness in recent years, Cindy says the program has given her new-found confidence and motivation. "It's given me more confidence to be able to get fit. It's given me the confidence to talk. I'm generally a really quiet person except when I go to soccer and then I'm the loudest!"

With women accounting for only only five per cent of Street Soccer participants, Cindy hopes her selection for the Street Socceroos will encourage other women to get involved. "It's a great way to interact with other people and it improves your elf-esteem."

 

Roy was staying at a hostel for homeless men in Sydney earlier this year when he heard about a street soccer program starting in the area. Six months on, the soccer enthusiast and one-time player has become a familiar face at the Paramatta Community Street Soccer Progarm, attending weekly training sessions to brush up on his skills and catch up with friends.

"It's done a lot for me," Roy says. "Living rough, you often don't get the chance to talk to people. But through the soccer, I've made new friends and I wouldn't miss it for the world now. "

Roy spent three years couch surfing and sleepin in his car following a relationship breakdown, which led to depression and anxiety. He has now secured transitional housing and says his selection for the Homeless World Cup team has capped off a remarkable turnaround in his life since starting Street Soccer.

 

Nathan's participation in the Woolongong Community Street Soccer Program has takem him from strength to strength both on and off the field.

The 22 year old, who has a mild intellectual disability and a heart condition, joined the program a year ago after hearing about it through friends. He says it has not only improved his soccer skills but given him the chance to make new friends and build confidence. "I thought it would be a fun thing to do after school," he says. "It's very enjoyable. Just being a bit more confident around new people, getting to know other people and having a fun t

Nathan, who also plays for the Australian Intellectual Disability Soccer Team, enjoyed his first trip overseas for the 2011 Homeless World Cup in Paris. "Everyone from the different countires have been really friendly towards us and the atmosphere has been great."

 

Yussuf was the first person to join the Canberra Community Street Soccer Program two years ago. The Kenyan immigrant, who moved to Australia with his sister and brother-in-law at the age of 11, ran into coach Tim Skinner while playing club soccer and decided to give it a go. "From then on, every Wednesday, I go there and have a kick with the boys," he says. 

With his sister and brother-in-law moving back to Kenya two years ago, the program has become an important support network for Yussuf. "All the boys get on and we support each other. It's been really good."

A highlight for Yussuf was the Street Soccer National Championships in June where, in front of a packed Darling Harbour crowd, he scored the final four goals of the grand final match to help his team to victory. Yussuf thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to represent Australia at the Homeless World Cup. "I have enjoyed playing other teams the most and getting to know different people from other countries."

 

Brisbane Street Soccer player Reece is drawing inspiration from Socceroo Tim Cahill to pull uot some magic of hiw own at the Homeless World Cup. "He's a very determined player - you can learn alot from him," Reece says. 

Reece joined the Community Street Soccer Program in Brisbane after hearing about it through a council event for homeless and at-rick people. "I wasn't doing much at all and Street Soccer is the one thing that sort of kept me from doing nothing."

A year on, Reece says the program has helped him to make new friends and develop his soccer skills. He thoroughly enjoyed playing in the Homeless World Cup, claiming "it has been amazing and it's great to see Paris."

 

Peter

• Age: 18
• City: Melbourne (Dandenong)
• Favourite Australian Soccer Player: Tim Cahill

At 18, Southern Sudanese refugee Peter was the youngest member of the Street Socceroos. "I thought they were joking when they told me," he says.

The Year 12 student joined the Dandenong Street Soccer Program in Melbourne three years ago. Under teh guidance of coach Stuart McGown, the program accommodates a large number of refugees, becoming an integral part of their lives and giving them something to look forward to each week.

"It's not about competition - most of the guys just come to have fun."

 

George Halkias (National Street Soccer Coach)

George Halkias comes from a traditional Greek background, one of love, caring and sharing. But for everyone that knows George they know that his heart lies with a group of men and women who despite the odds are determined to turn their lives around. For the players that are part of the Street Soccer program George is more than just their coach… he is their friend, their councillor, their confidant, their disciplinarian, their support, their life.

“It’s a big responsibility but I love it, they mean everything to me,” says George.

“Watching the Street Soccer players develop from their first training session is truly inspiring.

“The boost in their self-esteem and confidence is incremental with every training session and amazingly it doesn’t take long to rub off on other aspects of their lives.

“Having been with the program for four years I’ve seen some great success stories. Players who many would have written off as no hopers by the wider community are literally doing some amazing things. So many of the players have given up on counselling and other support services. This is a unique way of helping people who would otherwise be lost to the system and indeed to our community.

“The street soccer program is a catalyst for change. It’s about daring to dream that life can be better – that you can achieve greater things."