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US Men’s National Team Goes Top of Group at 64 Nation Homeless World Cup in Paris, France
US Women Drop Tough 2-1 Decision to India in Opener
Paris, France—The U.S. men’s national Street Soccer team defeated top ranked Ghana on Sunday to go top of their group in the first round of the 64-nation Homeless World Cup.
Underneath the shadow of the Eiffel Tower on the fifty by seventy foot court, New York City’s Julio Martinez, 20 years old, who recently moved out of the HELP USA homeless shelter in East Harlem, led the Americans to victory offensively and defensively by a final score of 6-3. “I just tried play with my heart and to play according to our plan, and I don’t know, I tried very hard, I guess I did it,” commented Martinez with a smile as his teammates cheered behind him.
The US Women’s missed numerous chances and suffered heartbreaking 2-1, loss to India. Lisa Stanley of Sacramento California, who has recovered from drug use, reenrolled in college, and recently regained custody of her children said, “This is the dream of a lifetime and we are soaking in every minute. Team India were a great team and we loved playing against them, and I know our team will be stronger tomorrow.”
The US team is organized by Street Soccer USA, the governing body for four-versus-four Street Soccer in the United States. The mission of the organization is soccer for social change. By organizing sport for development programs at homeless shelters and service centers in 20 cites and growing across the United States, Street Soccer USA transfers life and job skills through sports on the field and tracks outcomes in terms of education, health, employment and housing off the field. Neil Donovan, Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless said, “We celebrate each player’s commitment to their team and the individual accomplishment of moving beyond homelessness, through soccer.”
The Paris 2011 edition of the Homeless World Cup is the ninth such competition to take place and has enjoyed the support of icon of French Football, Arsene Wenger, who symbolically chaired the organizing committee. Last year’s champions, Brazil, in both the male and female divisions, are again expected to be difficult to beat. However, non-traditional soccer countries have faired well at the Homeless World Cup with the likes of Scotland, Russia, Afghanistan, and Lithuania capturing the Cup in the past.
The American teams entered with combined ranking of 18th in the world. Founder and President of Street Soccer USA, Lawrence Cann explained the U.S. teams’ ambitions for Paris, “Street Soccer USA is making excellent progress towards positioning itself as a world leader in the use of sport for social impact. Our men’s and women’s players and coaches here in France represent the best examples of that impact you can find. From a competition standpoint, the American teams are competent technically and strategically and we are very pleased with work of our coaches here and across the U.S. It is important to show well on the field at this competition, but we have a long-term view and are actively building an infrastructure for Street Soccer as sport and Street Soccer as an ethos across the United States and beyond.
For more information on Team USA you can visit www.streetsoccerusa.org. To follow all teams in the competition visit www.homelessworldcup.org .
