The Three Languages We All Must Learn

At the Homeless World Cup, people of all colors, shapes, and sizes converge under different flags that represent different languages, political systems, ideologies, and religions. There are teams from 48 countries in six continents, some belonging to global superpowers whose flags have instant recall and recognition, others to little-known states that are still seeking recognition.

Despite these differences, everyone here knows three languages that have made the Homeless World Cup a symbol of one huge global village converging toward one goal: the language of sports, the language of music, and above all, the language of respect.

The transformative and uniting power of sports is the main reason why the Homeless World Cup was established. Its founder, globally acclaimed social entrepreneur Mel Young, recognized that sports—football, in particular—has the power to uplift spirits, rebuild broken lives, and create new paths for a better future. According to Homeless World Cup research, more than 94 percent of participants have said that being part of the Homeless World Cup has had a positive impact on their lives. Seventy-seven percent have made significant changes as a direct result of the program, coming off drugs and alcohol; moving in homes, jobs, and education; becoming coaches and players; repairing relationships; and becoming social entrepreneurs.

Even those who are not playing football and simply cheering on the stands are feeling the energy of unity and positivity permeating through the Arena Civica in Milan, Italy, where this year’s games are held. Through the power of music, people can cheer, sing, dance, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company without having to struggle with words and syntax.

Leading the global cheering squad is Paul Zialcita, a percussionist and performance artist from the Philippines. Using five-gallon water bottles (called “aquadrums”) and a large recycled trash can, he has been drumming not only for Team Philippines but for other teams as well, and teaching the players themselves how to use these drums so that teams can have their own built-in cheering section. Through this approach, footballers gamely take the bottles on and drum and cheer for other countries—even for those who will be or have been their opponents through the course of the games.

During the opening parade in the streets of Milan (Photo: Debbi Shaw)

John Marshall is a player for Team Scotland, and even while Scotland and the Philippines have already slugged it out on the pitch, John and his team were seen rooting for Team Philippines during the latter’s game with Australia. Alejandro Miranda, meanwhile, is a volunteer pitch manager who hails from Chile and lives in the United States. He was seen cheering for the Spanish football team, whom he regards as “the best team. They’re very kind, very respectful.”

Sports and music have been building bridges in a world where lines are drawn too strongly and too often. In an interview with football star Dariusz Dsziekanowski, formerly a player for Polish teams, he talked about the importance of bringing back respect at a time when life moves too fast for people to pay attention to one another.

“Respect—this word brings a huge message to the people,” he said. “Life moves very fast. Sometimes you miss the train and find yourself standing in the station wondering where all the time has gone, and nobody will care about you. It’s important that we bring back the simple things, like saying ‘Hello, how are you?’ ‘I respect you’, ‘I don’t judge you’, ‘I respect what you’re doing.’”

When it’s difficult to verbalize our feelings and expressions, especially in a setting such as this where the arena has become a melting pot of peoples and cultures, Darius recommends one very simple thing:

“Just respect and smile at each other.”

© FOTO UP AGENCY

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The Homeless World Cup is an international football tournament that uses football to energize and change lives. It was first held in Austria in 2003, and has since moved to Sweden (2004), Edinburgh (2005), Cape Town (2006), Copenhagen (2007), Melbourne (2008), and Milan (2009). Over 500 players from 48 nations around the globe participate yearly, although pre-tournament training and trials benefit some 25,000 people from around the world. The goal is to reach 100,000 beneficiaries per year by 2010 onwards. To support the Homeless World Cup, or for more information on current updates, visit www.homelessworldcup.org

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A Story of Love and Generosity

Yesterday, the 9^th of September 2009, I married my best friend and the love of my life—beside the Philippine flag at the Philippine Consulate in Milan, witnessed by American friends from the Philippines and newfound Filipino friends from Italy. We were in the midst of the Homeless World Cup, at about the same time that our team was playing the great and friendly team from Japan. That singular event was a statement of many things past, present, and future. It was, above all, a true story of love and generosity.

Paul’s love for me, for his art and advocacy, and for his country, I need not explain. He has devoted his entire adult life to the creation of good and beautiful things that represent the best of our people and our culture. He has offered his time and his passion to bring powerful music to this beautiful game of football, which is now transforming lives from all around the world.  Moveover, he has taken my hand and invited me to be his companion in this great, lifelong adventure that is changing our lives and many others.

Our wedding in the company of dear friends and allies, and the wonderful picnic reception that followed at the park just outside Arena Civica, was a concrete demonstration of friendship and generosity. Friends whom we had met just months ago, Bill and Debbi Shaw, became witnesses to Paul’s and my commitment to bind ourselves to each other and to our advocacies. Friends that we had made while here, Analiza Marfori and Romil Pagtakhan of Alpha Phi Omega (APO)-Milano, shared their time, their good vibes, and their resources to help bring our wedding to life. Other friends from APO Milano pitched in to cook great food and set up a picnic reception to remember. Everyone agreed that it was their most unique wedding celebration yet. It was and will be our only wedding, and it was beyond perfect.

By the time the picnic was well underway, our boys from Team Philippines beat the aquadrums just as Paul had taught them months earlier. Passersby from the park stopped by to witness the action, and we all invited them to break bread with us. Some colleagues from the Homeless World Cup also stopped by to partake of our great dishes and share in our celebration.

That day I understood how a few pieces of fish and some loaves of bread could be multiplied and be the source of nourishment for many.

Our wedding is but a symbol of what the Homeless World Cup stands for: love, generosity, friendship… and the hope that lines will be blurred and the world will learn to live as one. Where there is sharing, there is peace. Where there is peace, there is love. And where there is love, lives can be born and reborn, and the world can be a much better place.

September 6 (12:30 PM, Milan time): Match draw held for the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup

Italy v Ghana is the first match of the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup

Minister of Sports and Minister of Defence to attend

Support your team!

5 September 2009: The match draw for the 7th Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup was held today as part of the City of Milan’s Official Welcome Party held in the design museum  of Milan – Triennale. Italy V Ghana will kick off at 12.30pm joined by the Minister of Sport and Minister of Defence.

48 nations representing all five continents of the globe were united for the first time for the international football tournament that will deliver a week of grit spirit and glory from 6-13 September 2009.

Mel Young, Founder & President, Homeless World Cup, on seeing the players for the first time together, said: “It is beautiful to see you all. I am so happy and glad that you are all here. Welcome.

“This year it has been difficult to put on the Event against the backdrop of the economic climate. Many sporting events have been cancelled. The Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup goes on because of the determination of the City of Milan and the Local Organisers. They will not let homeless people be forgotten. We salute you and thank you.

Turning to the players Young said: “Now it is up to you.  You are ambassadors for your country. You are leaders. The world’s media is watching. Show them what you can do. Stand proud. Have a fantastic tournament. Together we are changing the world.”

Other key games on Sunday 6 September:

12.55pm Scotland v Holland
1.45pm Russia v England
3.25pm Wales v Japan
3,50pm Switzerland v Costa Rica
4.15pm Spain v Ivory Coast
4.40pm Poland v Ireland, kicked off by Dariusz Dsziekanowski

The Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup is supported by the City of Milan, Ministry of Defence, Red Cross, Cariplo Foundation, Inter Milan, Gazzetta dello Sport and it is one of the main events of the Milan European Capital of Sport 2009. International support comes from Nike, Vodafone Foundation, UEFA, United Nations, Global Ambassador Eric Cantona and international footballers Rio Ferdinand, Marcel Desailly and Didier Drogba.

Over 70% of players at the Homeless World cup experience a significant life change; coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into homes, jobs, education, training, repairing relationships, becoming coaches or players with semi-pro teams and social entrepreneurs.  Since 2003 the Homeless World Cup has engaged over 100,000 players and has triggered football programmes in over 70 nations.

This year’s teams come from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mexico, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, USA, and Wales.

www.homelessworldcup.org

Touchdown in Milan

Team Philippines touched down in Milan last night at around 10:30PM (Milan time), after traveling some 17 hours via KLM, with a two-hour stopover in Amsterdam.

The trip was smooth, our arrival quite unceremonious, and in spite of prior coordination with the Philippine Embassy and Consulate General here, there was nobody to welcome the team bearing the Philippine flag and colors, no free ride from the airport to the Players Village (a 30-minute or so ride away). It took a serendipitous encounter with one of our kababayans, Donato Mantala (who’s lived here for some 20 years already), for the entire contingent and all our gear to be hauled out of the airport and into Milan proper.

Lesson No. 1: You might not be able to trust your own government, but you can surely rely on your kababayans to get you through a foreign land. Salamat po, Sir Donato (and his friend with the minivan)!

Anyway, that having been said, IT’S FANTAZTIK HERE!!! The Players Village is in a military camp outside of downtown Milan, and the apartment booked by Bill and Debbi Shaw (organizers of Team Philippines and our personal idols) is just 3 kms and a nice, short walk and bus ride away. We’d love to post photos now, but since we’re using official computers and can’t upload photos now, those will have to wait.

Anyway… The camp itself is nice and quiet, reminiscent of Camp John Hay in Baguio (although I personally think that John Hay is much nicer). One of the event partners is the Italian Red Cross, and each of the teams is housed in huge tents with bunk beds and with their team flags flying proudly over the entrance. Military personnel can be seen going around the grounds and cautioning us not to take photos, but the entire vibe here is warm and very congenial.

We’ve already met some of the teams. Team Philippines’s neighbors in the “camp” include Romania and Scotland, and some members of the Scottish team went inside the tent earlier today to introduce themselves and shake hands. We also met over lunch some members of Team Argentina and Sweden (whom we thought were from Brazil). Looking around, you can’t tell anymore who is from where, as people of different sizes and colors are seen wearing flags of unlikely countries. When they saw us, too, with the Shaws and Paul who were all very caucasian, they were surprised that we came from the Philippines. Aside from the players themselves, I’m probably the only Filipino-looking person in the group.

Lesson #2: The world is, indeed, one large global village. Barriers are broken, bridges are built and crossed, and we are all more interconnected than we thought. At the end of the day, we all have more similarities than differences, and for the next 10 days here we will all be bound by three things: football, music, and a common advocacy.

It’s only Day One here and there’s much to be done, so we will go soak up the vibe and be part of one great global community. In the meantime, we’d like to formally welcome you to our adventure and invite you to follow us along for the next two weeks.

For quick updates, check out www.twitter.com/thetweetz

Give poverty a penalty kick in the arse

Click on the image to visit the Homeless World Cup site