Road To Milan

For eight young men it will be an dream come true when they put on the green jersey of Ireland and represent their country competing among 48 nations in the Homeless World Cup in Milan, Jennifer May reports

Saturday, with the sun splitting the stones, the eight young men representing Ireland in this years Homeless World Cup in Milan, were put through their paces by coach Mick Pender. Early that morning (when other young people were still fast asleep or nursing hangovers) the dedicated members of the squad were up and about and travelling from all over Ireland to be in time for this important training session in Dublin City centre; with only three more sessions to go before the World Cup they are all anxious to get as much training together as a team before they face 500 players from 48 countries across the globe, in what, since its inaugural competition in Austria in 2003, is now recognized as one of the most exciting five-aside football tournaments in the world.
The team, picked after a rigorous selection process involving five hundred players from street leagues all over Ireland, culminating in a week of workshops in Limerick, are a truly national mix, coming from Dublin, Waterford, Carlow, Mullingar and Limerick:
‘There is a great sprinkling this year, a real mix of people from right across the country’ explains coach Mick Pender. ‘While it was easy to find good players, because of the structure and professionalism of the street league, it was also the hardest year to pick the squad to play in the World Cup such was the strength and depth of the street leagues and the commitment of all the players.’
Watching the team practice in the (rare treat) of the blazing sun, stopping only occasionally for a quick drink of water, they come across as a focused, dedicated, skilled and exceptionally fit bunch of lads. This is all the more remarkable when we remember that most of these young men have had difficult problems to surmount in the young lives. Some suffering homelessness, addiction, unemployment and all the complications associated with falling on difficult times. Having had to fight their way back from the periphery of society, they are all imbibed with a strength and determination to succeed, which would put some of the professional footballers - being paid obscene sums of money to put in half-hearted performances – to shame.
Team Captain, Trevor Owens has played in the street league for just over a year. The past fifteen years of his life were spent in the throes of a heroin and gambling addiction that destroyed any possibility of a normal life. Determined to change, last year he went into detox and then spent time in the Rutland centre, before moving into a recovery house run by Fr Peter McVerry, and attending an adult education centre for recovering addicts. Being involved in the street league has been a very important part of Trevor’s recovery, and he says, this is the longest he has ever been clean in his life.
‘Football really helps,’ Trevor explains. ‘It has given me confidence in myself, self-belief, and being part of a team is so important. The lads are all brilliant and the support we get from the coaches and league organizers really helps.’
Trevor is full of confidence for his future and is also looking forward to taking his team onto the pitch at the Arena Civica in Sempione Park in Milan. ‘I can’t wait to go to Milan,’ he smiles. ‘It’s such an honour to represent Ireland and we’ve a great team – these are some of the best footballers I have ever played with.’
Colin Price is also in recovery. Aged 26 and living in Carlow, he started taking ‘recreational’ drugs, like hash and Ecstasy at the age of fourteen, eventually moving on to heroin. Having left school at the age of fifteen he ended up homeless and drug addicted in various counties across Ireland. ‘At the start there was no help,’ Colin, now 26, remembers. ‘But I eventually got into a rehab programme in Athy. I have now been clean over a year and I have to say that being involved in the street league really helps keep me motivated. I’ve trained really hard and I gave it everything to be picked for this team.’
John Dowling has been a social coach with the league for five years now. Along with other coaches Anthony Hill and Jimmy Bell (who played on the team last year and is now training as a football coach) he has seen first hand how the league has grown, and the positive effects football has had on the young people taking part.
‘The league has grown so much since its inception in 2003 and we now have over 500 players between Cabra, Ballyfermot, Waterford and Athlone,’ he says. ‘There is a brilliant atmosphere and its great to see how much the players have improved and the hard work they have all put in. This team is a great bunch of lads and they’ve all gelled well together,’ he laughs, ‘as long as they do what they’re told - which they do if I give a little shout at them now and then.’
The sense of support and togetherness within the team is obvious. While there is fair criticism from coaches, there is also plenty of praise and you get the palpable sense that within the league these players have found a place where they feel encouraged, supported and respected. This has impacted positively on all aspects of their lives, on and off the pitch.
Many of the players are now looking at the possibilities open to them in further education, like Matthew Cullen, who was unemployed, but because of his involvement in the league, is now hoping to go to college and study Sports Development; while fellow team member Dean Dunne, who has just finished his Leaving cert and has applied to study Sports Coaching or Sports Therapy in college. Derek Daly from Limerick, the youngest member of the squad, has also decided to opt for further education, having renewed confidence in his ability to succeed.
‘I was unemployed and just hanging around drinking and doing drugs and I eventually ended up homeless,’ he says. ‘Now life has really changed for the better. I have something to get out of bed for, something to do, to look forward to. I have also gone back to school to do my leaving certificate and I eventually hope to do something involving soccer. I can now see possibilities for my future.’
‘If anyone doubts the importance of football in the lives of these lads just take a look at their achievements since their involvement,’ says Sean Kavanagh, founder of the Street League in Ireland. ‘The structure, discipline and sense of self-worth that they get from taking part gives them renewed confidence and allows them to believe that life has something to offer them.’
Meanwhile the next challenge for this team is the Homeless World Cup from September 6th to 13th in Italy. Have they a good chance of bringing home the trophy? Coach Mick Pender is quietly confident:
‘From past experience (without tempting fate) we’re going with a very realistic chance of winning,’ he grins. ‘The fitness level required is extensive, but so much hard work and commitment has been put in by the lads, that anything is possible.’
But is it really the winning that is so important or the process of getting there in the first place? I would think the latter, for wherever they come in the actual tournament this team have proved they are winners already.
‘The hard work and commitment that these lads have shown is amazing,’ reiterates Pender. ‘They realise that they are not only representing their country, family and themselves, but they are representing all the players in the street league. They know they are only the custodians of the jerseys for those who will play in the tournament next year.’

Back to top