‘Football is important my life as it’s the one

It was the week the Homeless World Cup came to Cardiff – and what a week it was. Aamir Mohammed reviews an event which has changed lives and won a new legion of fans...

THE Homeless World cup uses sport to inspire homeless people to change their lives and the public perceptions of homelessness along with the issues around it.

It is in its 17th edition and Cardiff was the host city for this year’s edition.

Around 500 players, including men and women from close to 50 nations, took part in the competition in the capital’s Bute Park.

The first day saw a dazzling and emotional opening parade through the streets of Cardiff city centre which featured the teams, coaches and staff of all the participating nations.

Bute Park burst into life as the teams and members of the public took their seats in anticipation.

Co-founder Mel Young and Welsh actor and activist Michael Sheen, who played a major role in the event’s organisation, took to the pitch to welcome everyone.

Sheen welcomed the world to Wales in an inspiring speech that was met with a huge round applause from the crowd.

The Hollywood actor said: “We dreamt that Wales would sing a song of welcome to the world and that the world would come. And so then we became the builders and we built that welcome. This welcome. And here you are. So thank you for hearing our song.

“Our men’s and women’s teams are known as the dragons and the warriors. But you are all warriors. And now warriors become dragons. I urge you this week to spread your dragon wings wide. To take off into our Welsh skies. And proudly. To fly. Dragons and warriors all. Welcome to Wales.” Young addressed players and dubbed them “heroes”. She originally launched the tournament with an Austrian journalist following a homelessness conference in 2001. The first tournament was held in Austria and has since been held globally – including in Melbourne in 2008 and Rio in 2010.

She said: “You are the heroes. The world is watching you now. You are the ambassadors for people who are back in your own country in the same position. We can demonstrate to the world that we can play football in the way it should be played.

“If we all work together, do a little bit and build together, we will create a world where there’s no homelessness at all. I declare the 17th Homeless World Cup open.”

The World Cup focuses on people from all across the world who have found themselves in many different situations.

Wales’ men’s team started off the tournament versus Denmark. It was a dramatic game, with Wales scoring a last-second equaliser, making it 6-6 – but they lost on a penalty shoot-out. However, the tournament’s sole purpose isn’t based on winning or losing. Instead, it is to give those who are less fortunate in society a chance to shine and hopefully change their lives.

There won’t be many other teams who have had to make a similar journey to that of the near 10,000km from their home in Cuzco to Cardiff that Peru have done. Among the travelling members of that squad is Mirian Miranda. At 20, she is the s q u a d ’ s youngest member at this year’s competition, which is made up of players who are all part of the same side run by street soccer enterprise Hecho Social Club Peru. The fact she knows her teammates so well means she feels comfortable here despite being thousands of miles away from her hometown.

She said: “It’s such a really good sensation to play and wear the Peru jersey, as it isn’t just anyone that gets the chance to do so. It’s very distinct and different from Peru here, but I’m enjoying it.

“The team all help each other. You could say we are like a family because we all know each other well, having played for the same club back home in Cuzco.”

Miranda was born in Puerto Maldonado in south-eastern Peru in the Amazon rainforest, but spent many years living in different locations prior to living in Cuzco, where she studies business administration at university.

However, she finds herself participating in Cardiff off the back of her involvement with Hecho Social Club Peru, which provides an opportunity for the inclusion and integration of vulnerable people and those suffering marginalisation and lack of access to resources across her homeland.

She added: “I joined up the Hecho Social Club Peru back in 2017 and was a little late to be chosen for the women’s squad for Mexico last year. But I continued to train and work hard and was given the opportunity to come to Wales this year.

“I’ve loved football since I was a small child and it has allowed me to meet new friends and people who I consider family and visit new places such as Wales.”

The tournament is split into two categories, men’s/mixed and women’s. Each four-a-side game is 14 minutes long, made up of seven-minute halves, and games are decided by penalties if they end in a draw.

The first Homeless World Cup in 2003 involved 18 teams, with Austria beating England in the final.

Last year’s event saw Mexico City