Pinoy booters vie in Homeless WC

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has been selected to participate in the eighth Rio 2010 Homeless World Cup slated Sept. 19-26 at the Copacabana beach in Brazil.

The Filipino “homeless” booters will join 64 other teams, including 16 women’s squads in the weeklong tournament aimed at addressing the global problem of homelessness.

The RP team competing in the event is organized by the Urban Opportunities for Change Foundation, Inc., which hopes to change the lives of millions of homeless Filipinos through football.

The Philippines has participated in two Homeless WC tournaments and has moved up to No. 34 ranking from 51st place.

“We have a team and a game that rivals South African’s 1995 rugby team, depicted in the film Invictus. They are overcoming adversity and providing hope for their communities. Thanks especially to Pinoy Big Brother for making this football team a household word and providing the funds to fly them to Brazil,” said William Shaw, executive director of UOCF.

Mel Young, president of the Homeless World Cup, also cited Brazil and the City of Rio for their initiative to take positive steps to address poverty and other social issues with football, a sport in which they lead the world.

Ukraine is the current world champion although the host has been tipped as the team to beat along with Portugal, Poland, Ghana, Scotland and England.

The first Homeless World Cup took place in Graz 2003 and featured 18 teams. The event drew 56 nations in the 2008 edition in Melbourne, Australia.

The Homeless World Cup is pioneering a radical level of change not seen before. Around 73 percent of the players have changed their lives for the better by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches and set up social enterprises enabling other homeless people to change their situation.

For details, visit www.streetsoccerphilippines.com and www.homelessworldcup.org, William Shaw, 0928 780 3682 or [email protected] Rudy del Rosario, RP team director, at 0920 230 0486 or [email protected]