Peninah Njuguna

It’s with no doubt that a man’s talent shall truly make way for him. It will get them out from this lifestyle and take them to another. This one could tell after listening to the Kenyan Street Ball team that will be representing the country in the 9th edition of the annual Homeless World Cup up which will be held in Paris. The game which is aimed at beating homelessness through football is scheduled to happen between 21-28 August at Champs de Mars in France.

The team is made up ten ladies and ten young men. The players were picked from different parts of the country so as to diversify the popularity of the game. Most of the players are from very humble backgrounds where some were even street children living in the dumpsite. They hold Mohamed Ahmed, the president Homeless World Cup Kenya with high regard for he was able to notice the talent there was in them when they were in a state where no one could have.

Rosemary Aluoch, the women’s coach and the goalkeeper as well is a product of the Homeless Foundation which she says has not only saved her life but has also changed it.Ms Aluoch who is a mother of one runs a club Dhacks Foundation in Dandora dumpingsite.The foundation she says is aimed at transforming the lives of many living there just as her life was transformed too. She believes that there is a lot of talent in the dumping site only that there is no one to explore it.
Edwin Chacha had at one time quit soccer due to many disappointments but was brought back in by team manager John Mwangi who could not watch such a talent go to waste.Chacha who also coaches street soccer to kids at Huruma looks forward to making football his earning profession.

The team as the name suggests has truly given many a home and a life they are proud of living now. Some like Betty who was a drug addict says that football really saved her life. Their wish is that the government could recognize the sport and give financial aid to street soccer in Kenya.”Street soccer is among the few sports in Kenya that manage to get to the world cup yet it’s not given enough attention” says John Mwangi.

The team leaves the country early next month to meet up with other 53 countries that will also be participating. Brand Kenya presented them with some merchandize and promised to bring together other Kenyans in their support during the game. The players only wish is that their lives will be better than they are now after the big game at France. They hope that more will be done to improve the game here at home.