NIKE HELPS INSPIRE SA HOMELESS WORLD CUP SQUAD

The South African Homeless World Cup squad were taken through their paces during a training session hosted by Nike and football legend and coach Tebogo Moloi, ahead of their departure to the Homeless World Cup which is taking place in Champs de Mars, Paris from 21-28 August 2011.

The training session was hosted on Monday at the Oasis Grassy Park facility in Cape Town with Tebogo Moloi conducting the session and imparting his considerable expertise to the youngsters who will represent the country in France. The players spent time with Moloi taking in valuable life lessons from the former Bafana international midfield star. 

“It’s important that these players use this opportunity that they have been given to remain positive and to share and learn from their international counterparts,” said Moloi. “It’s about taking the most that they can from this experience and to remember, above all else, to have fun and to savour the moment.”

The Homeless World Cup uses football as a catalyst that helps disadvantaged people to change their lives and their situations with the primary objectives of the tournament aimed at changing attitudes of Government, the media, the public and influencers to create better solutions for homelessness around the world. The Homeless World Cup aims to eradicate poverty and to create a confident and healthy world.

Nike is a founding partner providing direct support to the tournament and Nike recognizes the impact that sport has on individuals and communities. “We believe in the power of human potential to overcome adversities, even those that seem impossible,” says Seruscka Naidoo, Nike South Africa’s Communication Manager. “The Homeless World Cup uses football to energise homeless people to change their own lives.”

Boasting a network of 70 national partners, the tournament which started in 2003 has steadily grown from 18 nations to 53 countries being actively involved in the project. The annual tournament serves as a celebration of the year-round work with the homeless.

Research has shown that there has been significant change in the lives of players. Players have come off drug and alcohol abuse. They have moved into jobs, homes, training, education and repairing damaged relationships all through playing football. The Homeless World Cup project involves 50 000 homeless people per year.

Nike has provided the South African squad with all the technical requirements that the team will need throughout the Homeless World Cup tournament.

South African Homeless World Cup squad:

Players:

Ncedo Gomba

Tsotang Mathabela

Lulama Mahanjana

Julian Ferris

Adrian Koeris

Ayanda Peters

Ayanda Nkqayi

Tyrone Andrews

Management:

Ricky de Reuck – Head Coach

Lukhanyo Mjoka – Assistant Coach

Clifford Martinus – Team Manager