SSUSA Family in Rio De Janeiro
It is the last day of the Homeless World Cup at Copacabana Beach, the ocean breeze and emotions fill the air. For some players, this trip has been the first time flying on an airplane, for some it is the first time leaving the country (US) and yet for others, it is the very first time experiencing the immensity of the ocean. The tournament has brought together a range of personalities; although the players have little in common except for homelessness and soccer, they share sparkling characters and a sense of purpose and determination.
During dinner, they stand together around a table bent over in laughter. It takes them a full minute to regain their composure but then they point and laugh again, uncontrollably while telling jokes. They have become a family in only one week and it is difficult to believe that they were perfect strangers before arriving in Brazil. Their faces say it all; although they give each other a hard time, they all care and support each other. They were teammates all week but now they are part of a new Street Soccer USA family.
Each player's story is remarkable.
One player was a victim of child trafficking from Guatemala to the United States and was forced to work at a factory in Idaho at only age 11. Another is a young girl from Minnesota who after being sexually abused fled her home at 17. Another still is a refugee from the war in Somalia, turned away by family here in the US. Then there is a 44-year-old former airplane maintenance worker from Texas, 10 months into drug recovery.
Although the players and coaches enjoyed their time in Rio, there were struggles during the trip. Players in recovery from drug addiction needed to participate in meetings which resulted in accommodating a schedule of daily gatherings arranged by the Sacramento coach. By the end of the week, players from nine different countries were in attendance and communication among all of them existed that transcended language.
Our teams didn't win every game; the men finished 20th overall and the Lady Salamanders finished 11th, but they were resilient and fought hard every time. It also became apparent that one of our players struggled from some mental health issues that hadn't been diagnosed. Fortunately, our experienced team of coaches was able to manage the situation and the players listened and helped manage as well.
In the end, even that player had a great time and when she gets home, she will get the treatment she needs, treatment that could literally save her life. So yes, there were struggles, but the group was composed and managed so well that nothing disrupted their spirits. The final talk with the teams was emotional; we shared our thoughts, feelings and concerns. The group is coming back to the U.S. with a keen understanding of how to balance desire and composure. It was a tough lesson to learn but an important one to apply in life and in football (soccer).
Whether it was getting into community college, getting sober or succeeding in overcoming mental health challenges, the process started for each player with a goal and a process which was facilitated by a supportive, clinically informed community embedded within a sports program. As we develop monitoring and evaluation tools, sophisticate our projects and build revenue-generating programs, the trip to the Homeless World Cup is a great reminder of the power and simplicity of our idea.
There were great sporting moments to recount but for now let us just say thanks to all who made this trip possible. A ball can change the world.
