IT’S A WORLD CUP DREAM
Cathkin man Colin set for homeless event
A Cathkin man is set to represent his country as he travels with the Scotland squad to take part in the Homeless World Cup in Amsterdam this month.
Colin McGahey was admitted to the Jericho Society treatment centre in Greenock almost a year ago for alcohol and drug misuse.
However fast forward nine months and the 28-year-old is getting ready to travel with Street Soccer Scotland to represent his country.
The Homeless World Cup is an annual football tournament organised by the Homeless World Cup organisation.
The organization puts together an annual football tournament where teams of homeless people from each country compete.
Street Soccer Scotland are an organisation who hold football-related programmes and personal development services to socially disadvantaged adults and young people.
They conduct weekly sessions at the centre which footy mad Colin always takes part in.
Colin played as a right sided midfielder in his youth with Raith Rovers and his talent was there to see and was promptly called up after trials for the world cup.
He said: “If you’d have told me from where I was 10 months ago to where I would be now I would never have believed you. The treatment centre have saved my life.
“I’ve never been to Holland before, I can’t wait to go to and experience a different culture.”
Scotland have been draw in their group for the tournament with the Philippines, Bulgaria Hong Kong and the current holders Chile. The matches will be played in Amsterdam Square.
It is a four-a-side competition. Each team has three outfield players and a goalkeeper along with four substitutes. Games are 14 minutes long, in two seven-minute halves.
Scotland’s first game will be on September 12 and as Colin reveals, they couldn’t have asked for a more difficult opponent.
He said: “It’s four-a-side so you have to be able to defend and attack well.
“Our opening game is actually against Chile so we couldn’t have asked for a tougher start!”
However this is one World Cup where Scotland have a very successful record - they’ve won the competition in 2007 and 2011 an have been fourth place three times.
Colin added: “I will go over and do my best and hope to do my country proud!”