Love blossoms at Homeless WC

2006-10-04 14:20

Sandiso Phaliso and Steve Kretzmann

Cape Town - An international love affair blossomed between a Scottish lass and South African lad who played in the Homeless World Cup street soccer tournament in Cape Town last week.

Laura Graham (17), a homeless teenager from Glasgow, and Daniel Willeman (23) of Hanover Park near Cape Town happily cuddled and kissed.

"I am certain that she is my wife-to-be," said Daniel enthusiastically. "From the first day we started communicating I knew she was mine."

He said he was glad they were both homeless otherwise they would never have met. It was a "blessing in disguise", he said.

Laura, looking sun-kissed and happy, said South Africa was "amazing" and that she would be happy to settle down here.

She said Daniel was being sponsored by a running shoe company to attend a football academy in Scotland, so they would definitely make plans to see each other then.

South Africa was one of 48 nations participating in the Homeless World Cup, which accepts both males and females on teams.

Members of Kaizer Chiefs, who support the Homeless World Cup, said street soccer could unearth talent ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup and create greater interest in South African soccer.

"I didn't come from the best of conditions when I grew up but it's that little bit of hope that makes the difference," said Kaizer Chiefs star Shaun Bartlett.

Jamaine Cloete, marketing manager for The Big Issue which was one of the main organisers of the Homeless World Cup in Cape Town, said some Premier Soccer League players had come from township streets and street soccer could only add to the game.

Homeless World Cup communications director Kat Byles said the two pitches used at this year's tournament were being donated to "get the ball rolling" and establish an official street soccer league in South Africa.

The Homeless World Cup may be one of the most gender-inclusive tournaments in the world, with many teams such as Paraguay, Scotland, Uganda and Rwanda fielding a mix of both male and female players.

The tournament has seen an increase of six women players from 27 nations participating in last year's world cup in Edinburgh, to 32 women from 48 nations competing in Cape Town this year.

- African Eye