Homeless street team to take on the world

EIGHT youngsters from three provinces have made the final cut for the Homeless Street Soccer World Cup team and are set to jet off to Amsterdam on Thursday.

Yesterday MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais handed over new kits to the team and wished them well: “It is an honour for me to be here and wish you well.

“I can see in your eyes that you want to do this and that you want to do this for yourselves and I must say this is about you.”

Marais, who kicked around a ball with the players before handing over their kit and other gifts, said the team must win it for the nation.

“I want you to live your dream and to enjoy every moment of it.

“Bring back the cup for us. Next I want to see you at the Olympic Games.

“You are the role models for other children now.”

Marais also announced the team captain, Avuyile Pawule and vice-captain, Luyanda Dangatya.

Pawule said he hopes to lead his team to victory at the tournament: “We all come from different backgrounds and sometimes we struggle to move forward together, but as the captain I will lead my team well. I will start by leading myself and then the team.”

The team will play their first game on Saturday and return home on September 19.

Dillon Fletcher, who has struggled with drugs and was on the street for a long time, said being in the team was a dream come true for him: “I never expected this, to be on the team and it still feels like I am dreaming. I never expected my life to change like this.”

He said the language barrier between the players was the only challenge he has but believed they have a good chance of winning.

Coach Ricardo Dereuck said this year’s team was made up of players that came from drug rehabilitation facilities, vulnerable communities and the streets.

He added that the team spent a week at the Blue Waters Resort, near Strandfontein, and got to practice playing as a team: “It is a once-off opportunity to play in the tournament, but other opportunities come if they continue with the organisation.

“That is part of the idea, to get them working in the organisation.”