World Cup heroes help get homeless team on its way

KENT BLECHYNDEN/The Dominion Post

UNITED BY SPORT: Fabian Waenga, who is off to the Homeless World Cup in Brazil, shows his ball skills to All White Andy Barron. A $5000 donation from New Zealand Football has helped make the trip possible.

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New Zealand's football World Cup heroes have saved the day for some of their most vulnerable compatriots.

The eight players in the New Zealand homeless football side have been announced, just two months before their world cup tournament in Brazil, after New Zealand Football made a crucial $5000 donation enabling them to go.

"Funding has been a huge issue," Street Football Aotearoa chairwoman Katie Owen said.

Just weeks ago the trip was in doubt after eight months' fundraising failed to achieve the money for flights. Seventy-five per cent of the $35,000 needed had now been raised. There had been good support from partner agencies, such as Downtown Community Ministry, but "there are only so many sausage sizzles you can do", Ms Owen said.

The 56-country championship will be the eighth cup – but only the second the Kiwis have attended, after taking part in their first in Melbourne in 2008. Of the eight players selected to attend the four-a-side tournament, three are from the national champion Wellington side.

Fabian Waenga played his first football game less than two years ago, but will make his first overseas trip as a New Zealand representative. He was humble about his natural abilities that won his place in the team. "Apparently I'm quite loud."

Mr Waenga, who had a "long history" of homelessness but now lives in council housing, said playing football had made him more aware of humanity.

"I can see what [my team-mates] are experiencing and going through and a lot of crap they have to put up with."

He hoped to do the haka at the tournament, he said.

Kaha Keepa and Kevin Wagstaff round out the Wellington contingent.

Players have to be living on the street or in temporary accommodation, or have done so in the past two years, to be eligible for the team.

All White Andy Barron, who has just arrived home from South Africa, where New Zealand were the only unbeaten team in the World Cup, said the homeless championships were a "big deal". "[Football] can always be a great door-opener and I guess that's what these guys are looking for ... It is a stepping stone to bigger and brighter things."

His own World Cup experience was "the stuff you dream of".

New Zealand Football chief executive Michael Glading said the donation was in line with Fifa's aims of helping out, through the sport, those who are disadvantaged. "Football ... touches so many people on this planet. It's great to help out."

- © Fairfax NZ News