Street Soccer team receive their NI caps. The team performed well over the Homeless Soccer World Cup, battling it out with over 50 countries.
Street Soccer attended the Homeless World Cup for the 6th time in Mexico City in November 2018. 16 players who were homeless or have experienced homelessness took part in the weeklong tournament and represented Northern Ireland.
Choice were very proud sponsors, continuing a successful partnership. The male and female teams played and battled it out amongst 50 plus nations. The female team finished 14th in their competition and the male team 27th overall in theirs. Although NI didn’t bring any trophies home this year they did manage to pick up two awards for ‘Best Female Coaches’ and ‘Best Female Player’ for Keira Moss who was chosen from over 100 women. This was great recognition for the charity at the World Cup and a first time winning a coaches or player award.
Justin McMinn, Manager and Co-Founder of Street Soccer Northern Ireland said: “This trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity for all the players, a chance to represent your country in an amazing place like Mexico. We’ve already witnessed the positive impact of the trip with players obtaining housing, jobs and coaching qualifications on their return. Players are now filled with confidence and motivation and believe they can now achieve anything.’
Participating in the Homeless World Cup is a life changing event. Each player receives training and support over a 6 months’ period. The benefits the players receive are: better physical and mental health, increased confidence and self-esteem, motivation, structure, discipline, breaking out homelessness, overcoming addictions and gaining employment and education.
Keira Moss, player, added: “I was very proud of going out to represent our wee country. We all got well looked after by Street Soccer, everything was very professional. Playing football in Mexico is up there with some of my best places I’ve played. We went out to do our best and we done very well as a team that came together through street soccer and what it represents. I won player of the tournament and I was very proud of that for myself but also for the team. I’ve still stuck with Street Soccer after Mexico because of the friend’s I’ve met.’
