THE Philippines was drafted to participate in the Eighth Rio 2010 Homeless World Cup slated on September 19 to 26 at the Copacabana Beach in Brazil.
The Filipino “homeless” booters will join 64 other teams, including 16 women’s squads in the weeklong tournament aimed at addressing the global problem of homelessness.
The RP team competing in the event is organized by the Urban Opportunities for Change Foundation, Inc., which hopes to change the lives of millions of homeless Filipinos through football.
The Philippines has participated in two Homeless WC tournaments and has moved up to No. 34 ranking in 2010 from 51st place.
The country was also cited as the best-ranked Asian squad going into the Rio finals.
“We have a team and a game that rivals South African’s 1995 rugby team, depicted in the film Invictus. They are overcoming adversity and providing hope for their communities,” said William Shaw, executive director of UOCF.
The Filipinos finished 29th in a field of 48 teams in the 2009 in Milan where they beat Hong Kong and Luxembourg.
Ukraine is the current world champion although the host has been tipped as the team to beat along with Portugal, Poland, Ghana, Scotland and England.
The first Homeless World Cup took place in Graz 2003 and featured 18 teams. The event drew 56 nations in the 2008 edition in Melbourne, Australia.
Mel Young, president of the Homeless World Cup, also cited Brazil and the City of Rio for their initiative to take positive steps to address poverty and other social issues with football, a sport in which they lead the world.
On its website, the organization said 73 percent of the players have improved their lives by doing way with drugs and alcohol, getting jobs, reunited with families and even going on to become players and coaches. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)