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PREPARING SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE WORLD |
South Africa is putting in the final preparations for the Homeless Soccer World Cup which kicks off in Italy next week. The seventh edition of this popular event will feature 48 teams. The tournament uses football to 'energise homeless people to change their own lives'. South Africa first took part in the tournament in 2004, when it was held in Austria, and hosted the tournament in 2006. Project 2010 spoke to David Abrahams, CEO of SA Homeless Street Soccer, an association affiliated to the Homeless Soccer World Cup...  How strong is the team this year? I've previously sent four teams to Homeless World Cups and I really believe this year the team is prepared like never before. We've learnt an enormous amount from previous mistakes in terms of preparations. How important is an event like this for South Africa's 2010 World Cup preparations? The 2010 World Cup is supposed to be inclusive of everyone. The one thing I don't see is that inclusively that tells me that helping people on the periphery is important. The 2010 legacy programme is a joke. To me, one the most important aspect of 2010 is what will it leave behind and what will it do for people in rural communities who can't attend matches. That element of 2010 is critical. When the team gets back (from Italy), we want to see how we can use the team to spread street football. We would welcome anyone who wants to help us spread the street football legacy. Will the Homeless World Cup be played during the 2010 World Cup? No, we have to take a backseat because FIFA won't allow any event with the word 'World Cup' - but there will be lots of 2010 street football events planned. What legacy will the 2010 World Cup leave for the development of the game? I would love it if after 2010 the powers that be in this country will recognise how they messed up football, but I don't see that happening. Ten years after the Barcelona Olympics, they had a 10-year legacy event to celebrate all the initiatives that had been introduced to help the city - there was a real legacy they had created. I hope we can do the same. more interviews...
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