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Sat 22nd Nov 2008
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Media Trust

 
Offside Dreams

when is this on?

This isn't scheduled anytime soon.


It's Austria not Germany, and we may be following the fortunes of Archie Murray rather than Wayne Rooney, but it's just as emotional and it's the World Cup - the Homeless World Cup.

Scotland footballers
Team celebration
'Offside Dreams' charts the rise and fall of Scotland's team when they travelled to Graz for the first in what has become an annual international footballing event. 

They faced teams from South Africa to Brazil and the silverware was fiercely fought over. The games took place on two 'pitches' in the centre of the town.  Teams of four-a-side play  7 minutes each way on a concrete 'pitch', fitting for those who've spent many years on the street.

We see how they prepare themselves for the game, fill with pride as they stand to attention for the anthem 'Flower of Scotland' and then throw everything into beating the favourites, Austria.

The tournament is as much about boosting confidence for people who've spent half their lives feeling thrown on the rubbish heap by society, than it is about football.  It shows the ups and downs of the team, from sharing accommodation with an opera summer school to enjoying cultural events in the Austrian city.

The idea of the Homeless World Cup was started in 2001 in Cape Town by the International Network of Street Papers (INSP). The Graz event was the first of its kind, with twenty thousand spectators following its ups and downs. 

But most importantly, it led to many of the participants getting work both inside and outside football when they returned to their home countries - boosted by their success and achievement.

On 24th Sept 2006, 500 homeless players from 48 countries will gather in Cape Town to 'kick off poverty' and change their lives forever.

To find out more visit www.street

Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 June 2006 )
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