Northern Ireland's captain for the forthcoming Homeless World Cup has paid tribute to Street Soccer NI, a charity working with homeless people and disadvantaged groups across Northern Ireland.
Team NI, supported this year by Simon Community NI, Choice Housing, Nationwide and others, will be joining teams from 60 countries during the week-long event in Sacramento, California from 6th July – 16th July 2023.
Captaining Northern Ireland at the tournament will be Osama, a refugee from Syria who’s been involved with Street Soccer for over one year.
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The 30-year-old spoke of his pride in being given the armband and thanked Street Soccer for everything they have done for him.
He said: “I have really got a lot from Street Soccer since I joined. I made a lot of friends. It gave me a lot of confidence.
"I love playing football in the friendly atmosphere. After sleeping from house to house when I was homeless Street Soccer NI helped me to find accommodation and they helped me with deposit and first month's rent.
"After volunteering with them for a few months I am now working part time with them.
"I have been chosen as captain to represent Northern Ireland at the Homeless World Cup in USA. I'm really thankful and proud I got chosen."
The Homeless World Cup is a football tournament with purpose. The year-round work and training culminates in a world class event which has the power to change the lives of participants and shape attitudes towards this global issue, using the universal language of football.
Street Soccer NI works with over 200 people every week across Northern Ireland offering free access to weekly football sessions for men and women. Once players engage in the football they get offered support with housing, employment, education, addictions and more. They currently have weekly sessions in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Downpatrick, Coleraine and Bangor.
Fellow team member Michael says being selected for the squad is one of the biggest achievements of his life.
“When I first started Street Soccer I just came off class A drugs, I was nervous going at the start, but the guys made me feel really welcome," he said.
"It made me more secure about myself. I struggled with my mental health, and I used to self-harm but since being involved it’s kept me on the right path and give me things to do every day.
"I attend 4 or 5 days a week and volunteer with them. Being selected for the team is one of the biggest achievements of my life, as I never finished school.
"My kids will have something to tell people about, that their daddy represented Northern Ireland.
"I’m really Looking forward to meeting new people and enjoying the experience of being away.’’
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